~*Miyuki*~
“Why not Kuori?” I complained.
“Because I said no.”
“That’s a horrible excuse!” I exclaimed. I didn’t get why he wouldn’t come along to back me up.
“I don’t care.” He answered simply.
“Why are you so against this Kuori?” Taisuke asked.
“I don’t want my friends getting hurt.” He said.
“But, you won’t support what I’m trying to do, I’m doing this so that I can make my dream come true. I want to be a known reporter, and Zero is my key to doing that.” I said.
“Ok, but there are plenty of other people in the media who are out to get him too. I don’t really think it’s your place to get involved with a dangerous criminal.” Kuori said.
“I’m just doing my job.” Taisuke added.
“I’m going to get to him before anyone else in the media does.” I proclaimed. Kuori looked at me.
“It’s too dangerous for you Mi.” He said calmly. I looked away. Was that his only excuse?
“But it isn’t too dangerous for Tai? He knows I can do it, why don’t you believe in me?” I asked.
"Oh my god just leave me alone I don't want to go you two and that's final." He stormed off and slammed his door shut. I stood there and was silent for a few seconds. How could he have done that to me?
“Mi?” Taisuke asked quietly. I shook my head.
“If, my own best friend doesn’t believe in me, and doesn’t support what I do to make me happy, who will?” I whispered.
“I will Mi. Come here, I can tell your hurt.” He said. I turned and hugged him. He hugged me back and instead of letting go like I thought he would, he held me there. “He’ll come around, just give him some time.” I nodded and he took me over to the couch and I curled up beside him and closed my eyes. “That’s it, just relax.” He said. I nodded again and tried going to sleep, but after about ten minutes or so it wasn’t working. I was about to open my eyes when I heard someone walk into the room.
“You guys done ganging up on me yet?” I heard Kuori’s voice. I decided to keep my eyes shut.
“She’s sleeping. You know, what you said really upset her. She came really close to crying.” Tai said to him.
"Do you really think I like hurting her?"
“She just wanted you to tell her you believe in her. You’re her best friend, and she thinks you don’t support what she’s trying to do. She’s starting to think you don’t want her to be happy.” Tai responded.
"I do want her to be happy I-I just..."
“Don’t want her to get hurt? I understand that, and so does she. I don’t want her getting close to Zero either, she could get hurt, but that’s a risk she’s willing to take to achieve her goals. I believe she can do anything she sets her mind to, and as much as I don’t want her chasing after Zero, I’ll support her and be there for her. She may act tough, but she’s, delicate about some things. You should already be aware of this Kuori.”
"I-I am aware of it, and I don't like it when we fight, I've even..."
“You even what? You haven’t hurt her, have you?” Tai asked with poison in his voice.
"No...I haven't hurt her...I've been an absolute jerk though I don't think..."
"Look at her Kuori, see how peaceful she looks?"
"Y-yes..."
“This was a far cry from how she looked after she turned around and ran into my arms.”
"I didn't mean to upset her..." I couldn’t take hearing anymore. I slowly opened my eyes and looked up at Kuori. "Look I'm sorry okay, I didn't mean to upset her I just can't support her because..." He looked down at floor
“K-Kuori?” I asked. “Please don’t hate me for putting myself in danger…” I said softly as I sat up and stretched.
"I don't hate you...I'm just worried that you will get hurt...even with Taisuke there you never know what will happen..."
“It’s nice knowing you care, but it doesn’t feel good when you scream at me. You know how easily that gets me worked up.”
"I understand...I'm just going to go back to my room...You two should get going if you're going to figure out just how you're going to catch him...I'm not going to stop you...I'll see you when you get back." He turned around and I sprang up as he walked away.
“Kuori,” I ran and hugged him from behind. “I-I’m sorry.”
"Don't apologize, I'm the one that's sorry." He muttered loud enough for me to hear then got out of my hug and went to his room.
“Tai?”
“Yeah?”
“Let’s go.” I said and went over and grabbed my coat and put it on.
“You’re sure?”
“Yes.” I opened the front door and walked out.
~*~
Tai and I made it to the location of the gem, and we decided to stay in a spot that was half way outside, and half inside in order to try and keep an eye on everything. The police were patrolling the front, so there was a tight seal on the building.
“What if Kuori was right, and I can’t handle this?” I asked Tai after a while.
“You’ll be fine I promise. I have some tricks up my sleeve to you know.” I heard a shuffle in the bushes.
“W-What was that? Zero?”
“I don’t think so, calm down Mi.” Taisuke said.
“I-I’m really jumpy…”
“Just keep a cool head.”
“Easy for you to say. You haven’t been really really close to him.”
“Yes, that’s true.” I heard a sound and I jumped.
“Mi, settle down and relax.” I shook my head.
“I can’t…”
“Really Miyuki calm down. I’ve already gotten what I came here for.” Taisuke? Wait…
“W-What?”
“I’m up here.” I looked up, and saw Zero.
“H-HEY!” Was all that would come out of my mouth.
“I’d love to stay and chat, but I’ve gotta go.” He winked at me, and then vanished.
“NO!” I yelled. I tried to climb up to where he last was.
“Damn it! How the hell did he get there without me noticing?” Tai said, frustrated.
“No, no no no no…” I couldn’t believe what just happened.
“Come on.” He slammed his fist against the wall. I slipped and fell like a rock to the ground.
“Miyuki are you ok?” He rushed over to me. I sat up and shook my head.
“My chance, again…” I had let it slip through my fingers.
“There’s going to be more chances.”
“He was right there. Right there…” I closed my eyes and the tears came slowly. He instantly pulled me into a hug.
“Please don’t cry.”
“I have to get him. Kuori will never let me live it down if I fail.” I stated.
“Don’t worry about what Kuori thinks right now.” He said.
“At this rate, I have no hope at coming close to catching Zero. Kuori was right.” I whispered.
“Don’t let what he said put you down. Just keep moving forward.”
“Tai…”
“You’ll get him Miyuki, you just can’t lose hope so easily.” I leaned up against him a bit more and held onto his shirt. “You’re going to be fine.” I nodded.
“A-Alright…”
“I’ll just tell Kuori it was my fault that Zero got away.” He said putting his hands higher on my back.
“No, that’s a lie.” I let my arms go around his waist. I didn’t want him to lie to Kuori, I would feel really bad.
“It’s not a lie, it’s half right.”
“Still…”
“Still nothing.” He said firmly. I didn’t want to start another argument today, so I dropped it.
“Tai, you’re, really warm.” I could feel the heat radiating off of him.
“My body is usually always warm, I don’t know why. Not even my hands get cold that often.”
“It’s, nice.”
“Come on, let’s get home.” He said.
“Ok.” I let him go and we walked back to Kuori’s house. He was sitting on the couch playing a game.
“So, how did it go?” He asked.
“I let him get away.” Taisuke answered.
“Well, you came close right?”
“Yeah.”
“What about you Miyuki, did he say anything?”
“Just that he wished he could have stayed and talked, but that he had to get going.” I said.
“Ok.”
“I’m going to go home.”
“I’ll walk you home if you want.” Kuori said not looking away from the screen.
“No. I’ll see you later. Bye Tai.”
“Night Mi.” Taisuke smiled at me, and I nodded.
“Later.” Kuori said looking over at me.
“Yep.” I walked out of the front door and quickly went home. I gave mom and dad hugs goodnight and then immediately went to bed, after I read some more of my lines for the play.
