House of Blues

[GGJ5]

"House of Blues, New Orleans' premiere entertainment venue, is home to a 280-seat restaurant world famous for its delicious
Southern-inspired menu.

The venue, which opened itss doors in 1994, also consists of two state-of-the-art music venues -- the Music Hall and the Parish, an outdoor Voodoo Garden which features free live music during Friday Happy Hour, a Foundation Room -- our opulently appointed private membership club, and a very cool memorabilia store, featuring a great collection of HOB apparel, souvenirs, CD's and more." --From HoB website.

[Elda Forever]

OOC: Planned Yukito/Yumi meeting.

Yukito's outfit: Pants, Jacket, and Shirt!

Don't cry, emo kid.
BIC:


Yukito Maki

hey its yukito. heard u were in town meet me at house of blues?

He'd sent the text a few hours before. Afterward he had exchanged the address and directions with his ex-girlfriend, waiting just outside the door for her to arrive. Yukito hadn't exactly told Erin he was going to meet Yumi today, figuring he didn't need to bother her with it while she was feeling the increasing stress of being required to go through the rest of highschool 'by herself'. Plus, if he had told her, he had a feeling she would have insisted on coming. As it was, she had a prior engagement with homework, and he had an opportunity to clear up a few things. He couldn't get out of his mind the way Erin had freaked when she heard the girl who had dated him and Aidousan back to back had arrived in America. She had acted like the devil herself had come to kill off all the other females in the vicinity. True, it was weird for Yumi to have come all this way for what seemed like nothing.. but Aidousan had come, hadn't he? And Yukito still wasn't sure all the reasons why. Maybe he'd just felt lonely.

So, he had decided, his meeting up with Yumi again had been put off too long. He sat on the sidewalk in front of the House of Blues, poking at his shoelaces, one sleeve of his jacket hanging limply off his shoulder. He didn't bother to pull it up, staring quietly at the pavement. Why had Yumi come back? To try and get Aidousan back? With they way things were going with Cassie, and with the way Aidousan had talked at the hotel, Yukito wasn't sure Yumi's attempts would be in vain. And that would make Yukito a liar. He had practically swore on his life to Cassie that the attack from her mom's boyfriend wouldn't change things between Aidousan and her. That he would still care about her. Well, that he still cared was true. But that he cared enough, without the childish, fickleness of a typical Aidousan decision, Yukito couldn't depend on anymore.

Gosh, Aidousan. Can't you just pick one already? It's making me stressed out. He couldn't forget about the worry in Erin's voice. Or stop seeing the utter confusion in Aidousan's face. He had to talk to Yumi, and see what was up. And hopefully, to get her to be sensible about Aidousan. She was a pretty smart girl. He hoped it wouldn't turn into a crying session. He didn't know how to react if that happened now. Yukito had at first wondered why Yumi hadn't called him up to talk. But then he had realized how difficult he had made that, by tossing aside his old phone and losing complete contact with his mother. So he had sent the text. It was time to talk to her.

He let out a sigh, resting his chin on the back of his entwined fingers as he stared out at the typical New Orleans buzz of energy as people passed. There was no way of predicting what this conversation would hold.

[The Phantom of Paris]

OOC: So excited for this! XD

Yumi's outfit: This, minus the gloves and the guitar, obviously. And with these pigtails, only picture them a bit messier and...more hardcore. BIC:

Yumi Saito

"I still think you're crazy, Yumichan,"[/i] Sunny said from the driver's seat of the car, glancing over at Yumi with concern written in her eyes. "I mean, I know how much you like him, and how excited you are and everything, but...doesn't this seem a bit too perfect to you?"

"What do you mean?"[/i] Yumi asked, craning her neck to try and catch a glimpse of where she would be meeting Yukito. At last, at last. After all that had happened, after all of the sleepless nights and the anger and the confusion and the guilt, she would finally get what she had come all the way across the world for. She would get to see Yukito. She sighed happily, reaching for her cell phone to reread the message for the millionth time.

hey its yukito. heard u were in town meet me at house of blues?

The House of Blues. From what Sunny had told her, it was one of the most famous music venues in the city. Just me and him and music. Just like old times...I knew you still cared about me, Yukitokun, I knew you still loved me...

"Hey! Earth to Yumi!"[/b]

Yumi jumped, shooting her friend a guilty look. "Gomen nasai..."

"Like I was saying, I don't want you to get your hopes up just in case it doesn't work out. I know how you build things up in your mind, and...look, I just don't want you to be disappointed."[/i]

Yumi nodded, not really caring what Sunny thought about the whole situation. "I guess I see your point." I do, but I think you're wrong. I know you're wrong. This will turn out perfectly, I know it. It has to.

Sunny pulled the car over to the curb outside of a building that was clearly packed with people. "Okay, here we are. Just give me a call whenever you're ready for me to come get you. And...good luck, Yumichan."[/i]

Yumi practically fell out of the car in her haste. Politely pushing her way through the crowd, she searched through all of the unfamiliar and very American faces, hoping to find his distinctive, wonderful one. Yukitokun...where are you...

And there he was, sitting alone and looking just the same as ever. Yumi felt her heart leap out of her chest and settle somewhere above her head. It's all worth it. It's all worth it now.

"Yukito! Yukitokun! I'm here!" she cried, still making her way through the crowd. "Genki desu ka?"

I found you.

[Elda Forever]

Yukito Maki

He'd been sitting there awhile – maybe half an hour? - half-listening to whatever music still blared out of the House out into the street, when a familiar voice called out his name. Yukito looked up to see Yumi making her way as best as she could through the busy crowd that buzzed around the entrance. She had this electric smile on her face that lit up like a flame when he looked up at her, and Yukito stood up, a smile playing on his lips. She looked like she had been enjoying herself, and he wondered when her visit would reach the height of enjoyment here.

"Yukito! Yukitokun! I'm here!" she cried, still making her way through the crowd. "Genki desu ka?"

Yukito nodded, “Genki.” He shoved his hands into his pockets and looking her up and down. Wow. “You look great, Yumichan.” He had sort of mentioned to himself to call her Saitosan, like he used to. But 'Yumichan' slipped out easier on his tongue, despite the comparatively short period he had called her that versus the more polite term. He could argue it in his head all day, but he couldn't stop the natural reaction slipping out of his mouth. “How long have you been in America?”

A beat, and he – with very little subtlety – had to ask, “Have you seen Aidousan yet?” He looked straight into her eyes when he asked it, and his smile went crooked. “I still can't believe you guys started dating after I left. Guess I should've seen it coming. Or something.” He shrugged, not sure what he was looking for in her face. Whatever it was, he didn't think he was seeing it. He knew Aidousan still held onto a lot of whatever it was that had transpired between him and Yumi after Yukito had left. And that made a lot of problems ready to develop between Cassie and him.

[The Phantom of Paris]

Yumi Saito

It was as if nothing had changed as Yumi looked at him, smiling so widely she thought her face might break in two. See? Sunny was wrong. I knew this would work. I knew that you still cared about me, just like I still care about you. I knew it. I never stopped believing in you, Yukitokun.

Now everything can go back to the way it was before.

"I'm here! Genki desu ka?"

She had to fight the urge to throw her arms around him as he nodded at her. So formal, Yukitokun...just like always.

“Genki.”[/i] Yukito's hands slipped into the pockets of his black jacket, taking on the familiar nonchalant pose that she often associated with him in her mind. That's good, isn't it? Right? It means you're feeling comfortable with me right now, which is a good thing. “You look great, Yumichan.” Yumichan He had used her first name, not her family name, another good sign. He was letting go of some of the formality. Yumi grinned even wider, a pretty pink blush coming over her cheeks at his words. "Arigato gozaimasu"

“How long have you been in America?”[/i]

Yumi paused for a minute, thinking. "Hmm...a couple of weeks, I suppose? I'm staying with Waldenchan--Walden Sunny, the girl who was an exchange student at our school, if you remember her..." She was certain he wouldn't, which would rule out the possibility of him asking why Yumi had decided to come to visit. And that's definitely something I want to avoid, at least for now. Just to be safe, though, she tacked on, "We got to be pretty good friends and...I just felt like reconnecting with her." Immediately she regretted the choice of words. Lame, lame, lame, Yumi. Fix it! "And...she's helping me... wit' Englrish. Bad am." She finished with a sheepish smile.

Ha. Yeah right. Nice save, Yumi. Real clever. Why does this have to be so hard? Why can't for once it ever be like in the movies and TV?

“Have you seen Aidousan yet? I still can't believe you guys started dating after I left. Guess I should've seen it coming. Or something.”[/b]

Yumi's smile faded, and she sighed, looking down at the ground for a moment. "Yeah, I've seen him. It was...awkward. Very awkward. And I almost wish it hadn't happened. I just...I wasn't prepared for how much he still..." she looked up at him. "Well, I'm sure you know. He's your best friend." Another sigh. "And, looking back on it, I know I could have handled it better. I just...I'm not even sure I knew what I was thinking at the time. I just wanted to make sure once and for all that he was okay, you know? Especially after the accident and everything. And I wanted to see if it was possible we could still be friends, because that didn't really work the first time around. But I don't think we can."

She glanced over at him uncomfortably. "I'm sorry...but can we talk about something else now?"

Please.

[Elda Forever]

Yukito Maki

“How long have you been in America?”

Yumi paused for a minute, thinking. "Hmm...a couple of weeks, I suppose? I'm staying with Waldenchan--Walden Sunny, the girl who was an exchange student at our school, if you remember her..." He didn't say anything, trying to look like he could remember her somewhat, but the truth was, he had no memory of Waldenchan at all. "We got to be pretty good friends and...I just felt like reconnecting with her." He gave a slow nod. That made a little sense. Kind of. It was kind of a long way to 'reconnect' with someone. Yumi quickly tacked on, "And...she's helping me... wit' Englrish. Bad am." Yukito smiled.

"Cute. The best way to learn," he said slowly, and with clarifying emphasis so she could take time to understand it, "Is to speak it. A lot." Yukito shrugged his shoulders, "Don't worry too much. Aidousan is still struggling with it. It's not an easy language." A pause, and he had to add, “Have you seen Aidousan yet? I still can't believe you guys started dating after I left. Guess I should've seen it coming. Or something.”

Because he seems so in love with you, Yumi. Even now. Even after something happened to hurt him pretty badly about it all. I should've known he was into you. He was pretty obvious about it, I think. But I'm pretty good at ignoring things.

Yumi's smile faded at the mention of their mutual friend, "Yeah, I've seen him. It was...awkward. Very awkward. And I almost wish it hadn't happened. I just...I wasn't prepared for how much he still..." she looked up at him. "Well, I'm sure you know. He's your best friend."

She sighed. My best friend? Yeah. I guess he really is.

"And, looking back on it, I know I could have handled it better. I just...I'm not even sure I knew what I was thinking at the time. I just wanted to make sure once and for all that he was okay, you know? Especially after the accident and everything. And I wanted to see if it was possible we could still be friends, because that didn't really work the first time around. But I don't think we can."

Yukito looked away, feeling the awkwardness of the situation. It was weird to hear your ex-girlfriend talk about your best friend like that. Two people you thought you knew for so long, in a new and misunderstood situation. He stared down at his shoes and mumbled, "Maybe someday. I don't think either of you are ready now."

"I'm sorry...but can we talk about something else now?"

He glanced up at her for a moment, then coupled a shrug with a nod. "Sure..."

Like what?

Like talk about why you really came to America?

Like talk about how Aidousan said you were still in love with me?

Like talk about how I have a girlfriend now who I love more than anyone, past, present, and future? Should we talk about that instead?

Yumi, do you still love me, or did you just say that to push Aidousan away?

What does that mean for us?

With every question, he felt a heavier push on his chest, weighing him down to earth and keeping his eyes to the ground. He knew he pushed away all his suspicions when it came to things like this. He knew he tried to forget things. It made it easier to play stupid.

"Yumi..." He looked up at her, then added quietly, "Let's go on inside."

[The Phantom of Paris]

Yumi Saito

"And...she's helping me... wit' Englrish. Bad am," Yumi told Yukito, feeling embarrassed at her lack of proficiency with the difficult new language. Doesn't help that you probably have the best English of anyone I know...I don't know how you caught on so fast, but I wish you'd show me your secret...All of your secrets...

"Cute," he commented, and Yumi's face immediately lit up in a smile. "The best way to learn, Is to speak it. A lot." Yumi's brow furrowed in concentration as she tried to decipher that. 'A lot' she was able to understand, and 'speak', and...'learn'...that was what you did in school, right? It had to be. "Hai!" she sang out happily. "Yes! Yes, speak a rlot!"

"Don't worry too much. Aidousan is still struggling with it. It's not an easy language."[/i]

"From what I hear, there's a lot of things Aidousan is struggling with," Yumi muttered darkly.

"Have you seen Aidousan yet? I still can't believe you guys started dating after I left. Guess I should've seen it coming. Or something.”[/i]

No, you really shouldn't have. Because I didn't. And I still regret it. Do you regret it too? Do you, Yukito? Do you?

"Yeah, I've seen him. It was...awkward. Very awkward. And I almost wish it hadn't happened. I just...I wasn't prepared for how much he still..." She couldn't bring herself to finish that sentence. How much he still loves me.

"Well, I'm sure you know. He's your best friend. And, looking back on it, I know I could have handled it better. I just...I'm not even sure I knew what I was thinking at the time. I just wanted to make sure once and for all that he was okay, you know? Especially after the accident and everything. And I wanted to see if it was possible we could still be friends, because that didn't really work the first time around. But I don't think we can."

"Maybe someday. I don't think either of you are ready now."[/i]

This wasn't working. She was getting to vulnerable, too upset. She wasn't going to have a replay of the last time she'd talked to Yukito. She needed to change the subject, take control of the situation. "I'm sorry...but can we talk about something else now?"

He gave a little nod, and Yumi dared to smile up at him. "Sure...Yumi...Let's go on inside."[/i]

"Okay!" she said in happy, relieved English, wanting to take his hand as they walked into the music venue but settling for just staying close to his side. Her eyes widened. It was so similar, and yet so different from anything she'd ever seen back home. "This is amazing!"

She slowed, gazing at him thoughtfully. "How...how are you? No one back home...I mean, they all miss you. I mean, what I mean to say is..."

Do you love me?

"...how have you been?"

[Elda Forever]

Yukito Maki

The conversation went drier and harder to chew than a three-day-old sandwich. Especially when they started talking about Aidousan. It was as if both of them cared about him - deeply - but neither knew how to share that concern, nor how to express it right. It was a situation impossible to deal with when they both danced around the facts with elaborate steps meant to distract the other from the real side. The vulnerable side.

"I'm sorry...but can we talk about something else now" He nodded in response, and she smiled at him gratefully.

"Sure..."

"Yumi..." An unbelievable silence that lasted only fractions of a moment passed, feeling like forever. "...Let's go on inside."

"Okay!" she chirruped, coming to his side. He felt the awkwardness, and even saw her hand incline towards him before drawing back. His face darkened in the least difference a shade could alter. He led them inside the House of Blues, where Yukito had visited once or twice but had been unable to enjoy to its fullest. It had been the House of Blues where he had gone to try and find some comfort in a new genre after the breakup with Erin. He'd even updated his livejournal with news of it. And not long after had solemnly read her own journal response to it. I HATE HIM I HATE HIM I HATE HIM!! How different things could become. He guessed she had never really hated him, but maybe she had. Maybe that day, she'd hated him through all her regret and bitterness. He wanted to ask her someday. Then he could tell her how empty it had felt to stand by himself in the House of Blues, and that it had been impossible to distract himself, despite his best attempts.

"This is amazing!" He turned to see Yumichan's enamored face, gazing around happily at the new, exciting atmosphere. The crowds milling around somehow felt so different from how it felt it Japan. There were no defined groups. Everyone sort of milled around as one huge human mass. His gaze wandered over the unfamiliar faces, remembering the last time he'd been on a stage in Japan. "How...how are you? No one back home...I mean, they all miss you. I mean, what I mean to say is..." She seemed to lose her sparkle as he turned to look at her, meeting her eyes evenly. Yumi started to stumble over her own words, and he didn't outwardly react to it - though inside, he was feeling very, very guilty. "...how have you been?"

"Better," he said, shoving his hands into his pockets, his voice raised over the sound of many people shouting and talking, along with the clink of dishes. "You know me. I find it hard to be happy. Now..." he paused, looking around them, "You know what? I think I am happy. And the weird thing is, nothing's really changed. I've just gotten older." He turned to watch Yumi's face, the words on the edge of his lips. But he couldn't say them. Even when they somehow found themselves sitting at a table, waiting to order. "Yumichan..." he started again. He had been putting it off again and again. Yukito frowned, folded his hands in front of him on the table, and stared down at his wrists. "Yumichan, there's something we haven't talked about. No matter how many times we've talked on the phone or emailed, or whatever... And I've heard things, but...I need to hear it from you." His eyes flickered up to catch hers. "Yumichan...what are we? What are we now? Exes? Old friends? What?" He felt his breath catch after the first syllable and wasn't able to get it back.

[The Phantom of Paris]

Yumi Saito

"Yumi..." Yukitokun began. Yumi's heart seemed to vacate her body permanently, running away into the busy streets of the city as she waited for his response. Is this it? Really? Could it be that easy? Is everything I've been imagining? Is this...

"...Let's go on inside."

I guess not. But it's a start, right? Right? "Okay!" she replied cheerfully, reaching for his hand almost on instinct. She stopped herself just in time, though, and focused on the rhythmic swinging of her arms instead. Because if she didn't find something else for her hands to do, she knew they would just try to end up in Yukito's hand again. That would be going too fast, which she knew he wouldn't want. If they went too fast, it would mess everything up, and probably for good this time. This was Yumi's second chance--after this, there would be no others. She had to make this one count, and she couldn't afford to mess it up.

I won't. Not this time.

The music venue as a whole was pretty incredible, and Yumi felt a rush of excitement that had nothing to do with the fact that she was standing a mere four inches from Yukito, but had everything to do with the music she was about to hear. I'll bet Spensersan doesn't even like music. Does she feel about it the way I do, Yukito? Or the way I know that you do? Hmmm? I didn't think so.

"This is amazing!" she said before catching sight of his stoic face. Her eyes widened with concern, and she lowered her voice. My poor Yukitokun... "How...how are you? No one back home...I mean, they all miss you. I mean, what I mean to say is...how have you been?" How could that horrible girl hurt you so badly? Why did you let her? Have you been thinking about me?

"Better. You know me. I find it hard to be happy. Now...You know what? I think I am happy. And the weird thing is, nothing's really changed. I've just gotten older."

Yumi had to fight to keep her mouth from falling open. You're happy? But...how? That Erin, that horrible awful Spenser Erin, hurt you so badly it makes me hurt to see you like this! Didn't she? Hope soared in her as another thought struck her. Are you happy because I'm here now? Happy because you've finally gotten over her? Are you? Are you, Yukitokun?

"Yumichan..." he said as they sat down.

"Hai?"

"Yumichan, there's something we haven't talked about. No matter how many times we've talked on the phone or emailed, or whatever... And I've heard things, but...I need to hear it from you. Yumichan...what are we? What are we now? Exes? Old friends? What?"[/i]

Whatever Yumi had been expecting, it wasn't this.

Her eyes immediately lost their happy glow, and she focused on the wood grains of the table instead of on his eyes. "Why...why do you ask? Why do we have to figure this out now? Why can't we just enjoy tonight?" Why can't you just love me, and why can't this ever work out the way I want it to?

"Why can't we just..."

And then Yumi did something stupid, something she knew she'd regret. As she leaned forward to catch his lips with hers, all she could think about was how much of a hypocrite she was.

Because she was kissing him, just like Aidousan had kissed her. Which made her no better than she was.

Life is a vicious cycle.

[Elda Forever]

Yukito Maki

"Yumichan, there's something we haven't talked about. No matter how many times we've talked on the phone or emailed, or whatever... And I've heard things, but...I need to hear it from you."He pushed forward, his focus on his hands as if this was a speech he needed to practice to them. "Yumichan...what are we? What are we now? Exes? Old friends? What?" He took a long moment to attempt to regain his focus before he lifted his eyes to her face. Of course he knew what he'd see there - she looked crushed, and defeated.

"Why...why do you ask? Why do we have to figure this out now? Why can't we just enjoy tonight?" He looked down at his hands again, frowning deeply. Because I don't know. Because I need to know. I can't keep wondering and asking myself what I'm doing wrong here, and what this all means.

"Because...Yumichan..."

"Why can't we just..." The following events happened quickly enough that there was no time to react. Yumi leaned forward and pressed her lips to his, desperately, longingly. Yukito froze in surprise, his hands gripping the table as though they were a lifeline to reality. What are you doing, Yumi?

He couldn't help remember the last time someone had kissed him unexpectedly. That had been Erin, the night she'd told him she liked him. Because of that, he wasn't able to find any anger in himself towards Yumi's actions. Even though she should have known. He could probably have counted the amount of times they kissed during their relationship on his hands, and he had failed miserably in that relationship. There had always been a fear in it, lingering behind their words and glances. He had kept her at a distance, and there had been reasons for it. His face showed all the confusion he felt rampaging through his memories.

"Yumi..." his voice was gentler, more breathless than it ought to be, he decided. He inhaled firmly before continuing, "Yumi, I'm sorry...This is my fault. I..." he looked down at his hands, helpless to meet her eyes. "I did everything wrong today, I should have just been straightforward with you. Yumi, I still love Erin. And I'm not going to stop loving her anytime soon."

Now, of course, every mistake was obvious. He shouldn't have texted her. He shouldn't have invited her to see him alone. If she had seen Erin at his side that would have been simple enough. He shouldn't have invited her on an almost date to a place he knew she would have enjoyed. If they had met at the place she had been staying, or in some dull place like a library, that would have made it different. And he'd been so stupid about it all. Because he hadn't wanted to hurt her. He stood up from the table, feeling winded. "I'm sorry, Yumi. I really am. I..." He stopped, staring at her. How can I just leave like that? His feet glued to the floor. It was a glue formed by his guilt at being so stupid, and for all the memories he had made with her, hoping for the best. "I'm sorry..."

[The Phantom of Paris]

Yumi Saito

"Why...why do you ask? she asked sadly, her already fragile confidence shaking. Suddenly, the belt around her waist seemed to be cutting off her flow of air, the roof of the House of Blues seemed to be crushing her, and Yukito's words seemed to constrict around her like a snake. "Why do we have to figure this out now? Why can't we just enjoy tonight?"

"Because...Yumichan..."[/b]

She interrupted him before he could finish. "Why can't we just..." And then she kissed him, deep and desperate, trying to get a sense of what Spensersan felt when she kissed him. It was like deja vu from her experience with Aidousan, except now she was on the receiving end of an unwanted kiss. Oh, Kagayaki. I understand. I get it now. I know how it feels to love someone so much that you'll do whatever it takes to get them back, even if it means doing something you'll regret. I know why you kissed me now, and I don't blame you for it. I had no right to yell at you...not after what I'm doing now...I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.

There was really only one difference between the two kisses.

Yukito didn't make any attempt to kiss her back, as she had done with Kagayaki.

"Yumi..." he said once they'd parted, sounding like he was trying to catch his breath. Now you know what it's like to have your very breath stolen from you by someone you love. You've been doing that to me for years, Yukitokun. How does it feel?

"Yumi, I'm sorry...This is my fault. I..."

"Your fault?" Yumi said, not quite following. I kissed you. It's my fault...I kissed you...and you didn't kiss me back. Why didn't you kiss me back?

"I did everything wrong today, I should have just been straightforward with you. Yumi, I still love Erin. And I'm not going to stop loving her anytime soon."

It was as if the world came to a complete stop around Yumi. The background noise of their fellow diners and whatever band was playing that night became dull and hard to decipher, the waiters moved in slow motion past their table. Her very heart seemed to freeze in its tracks. "I'm sorry, Yumi. I really am. I...I'm sorry..."

"How could you!" Yumi exploded, leaping up from her seat. "After all that she's done to you, how can you keep crawling back to her again and again?! She'll only hurt you again, do you realize that? She doesn't love you! I do! I do! And why did you even invite me here if you and her are still together and living happily ever after, hmm? To see if Aidousan was right? Well, he was, even if he's not the most reliable people around these days. Did he tell you to do this? To get back at me or something? I didn't do anything--he was the one who kissed me at that restaurant when he has a stupid girlfriend here in America! Or did you do this to make fun of me? Is Erin here too? Are you two going to laugh your heads off after I leave? Are you?! I can't even believe you! I can't! You know what? You're perfect for each other! You and Erin--and Aidousan too! I hope that poor kanojo of his gets out of there before it's too late. I really do. I just--I can't believe you! How could you do this to me? How could he do this to me?! I can't believe this is happening!" She picked up her water glass and threw its contents into Yukito's face, wishing it were acid, poison, anything other than the actual harmless liquid. "I hate you. I hate all of you!"

[Elda Forever]

Yukito Maki

"Yumi..." he said breathlessly, feeling guilt riddling every nerve in his body, trying not to react to her kiss. She kissed me. Gosh, Yumi. Why do you like to make things so difficult? "Yumi, I'm sorry...This is my fault. I..."

"Your fault?" Yumi asked.

"I did everything wrong today, I should have just been straightforward with you. Yumi, I still love Erin. And I'm not going to stop loving her anytime soon." He stood up, wanting to walk away - to run away - if it meant not seeing her face and not feeling the warmth everywhere in the building. This place wouldn't be the same, now. Because he had made too many mistakes. He'd told Erin he was going to handle it. He'd reassured her, so many times. And she'd been half-right. Except it was more his fault than she had guessed. "I'm sorry, Yumi. I really am. I...I'm sorry..."

"How could you!" Yumi exploded, leaping up from her seat, ignoring the sincerity of his apology. "After all that she's done to you, how can you keep crawling back to her again and again?! She'll only hurt you again, do you realize that? She doesn't love you! I do! I do! And why did you even invite me here if you and her are still together and living happily ever after, hmm? To see if Aidousan was right? Well, he was, even if he's not the most reliable people around these days. Did he tell you to do this? To get back at me or something? I didn't do anything--he was the one who kissed me at that restaurant when he has a stupid girlfriend here in America! Or did you do this to make fun of me? Is Erin here too? Are you two going to laugh your heads off after I leave? Are you?! I can't even believe you! I can't! You know what? You're perfect for each other! You and Erin--and Aidousan too! I hope that poor kanojo of his gets out of there before it's too late. I really do. I just--I can't believe you! How could you do this to me? How could he do this to me?! I can't believe this is happening!"

He'd stood still through the whole tirade, feeling the heat of fury and embarrassment boiling beneath his skin. When Yumi reached for her water glass, he was too distracted with his own anger to react in time before the ice-cold liquid splashed across his face, making him jump. He growled and raised one sleeve, wiping away the water uselessly.

"I hate you. I hate all of you!"

"Well too bad, Yumi, because I can't hate you! Why do you think I even tried? Any of this?! I never asked you to kiss me. And there has always been a reason for that, but you're so caught up in your own wants and needs that you never took the time to listen! To really listen to me! You always want something from people, but I can't keep screwing up! I regret being with you. And it's not because I hate you but because I never could make you happy!" He leaned towards her, his fists clenched at his sides as he stepped towards her, his voice rising. "You never gave me anything! You only made us feel guilty - Aidousan and me - when we couldn't make you any better. I bet you started dating him because you thought he could feeling your whiny little needs, but it turns out he had enough guts to walk away. I was proud of him until he started looking back at you. You'll always need, Yumi. That will never change. I can't make you better Yumi, I'm ****ed up enough myself without you!" He slammed his fist on the table hard enough for things to get dislodged, as if to help her understand with a loud noise to break through her mental barrier. "I gave you a part of me and constantly felt it rejected! Like you cared but you were too afraid to say anything. Just. Like. Always." He leaned forward to snarl, his voice low and threatening. "If I have to crawl back to her time and again, I will. And you know why? Because she isn't afraid all the time. She has more guts than I'll ever have, and she's not afraid to live." He took a few steps backwards, still glaring at Yumi. "Erin... she wouldn't have asked me why we were here tonight. Because I was trying to give you a chance to tell me in your own words. She wouldn't have asked me how I could do this. She would be trying to find out what could be done. She wouldn't ask me to fix her. Ever. Every time I've screwed up, she tries to fix things with me, as a team, and when I'm not there, she loses something that I think I can fill. I lose something, and there's no words for how different I've been since. It goes both ways, and I don't always feel indebted to her, even when I'm the one afraid." The remaining water dampened his hair, making it fall into his eyes, striping through his view of her.

"Goodbye, Yumi. I'm sorry I screwed this up for you. But so did you, for trying to make us both believe a lie." He shook his head. "I did love you, once. I really think I did." He turned and walked out of the House of Blues, hearing the music thrum through his head. His whole head ached and throbbed, but the tears he felt choking his throat didn't come, surprising him.

Yukito is done here, methinks. 0.0

[The Phantom of Paris]

Yumi Saito

For the first time in her life, Yumi understood the expression "seeing red". She was so angry the entire room seemed to be spinning around her, with Yukito's face the only thing in focus as she screamed at him, not even paying mind to half of the things she was saying. Is Erin here too? Are you two going to laugh your heads off after I leave? Are you?! I can't even believe you! I can't! You know what? You're perfect for each other! You and Erin--and Aidousan too! I hope that poor kanojo of his gets out of there before it's too late. I really do. I just--I can't believe you! How could you do this to me? How could he do this to me?! I can't believe this is happening!" To punctuate her point, she threw her still very-full glass of water into his face, noting with satisfaction his shocked reaction. Serves you right, you know that? Serves. You. Right.

Yukito wiped some of the water off his face, but traces remained, droplets clinging to his eyelashes and bangs. "I hate you. I hate all of you!"

"Well too bad, Yumi, because I can't hate you!"

For the second time that evening, Yumi froze.

"What...?"

"Why do you think I even tried? Any of this?! I never asked you to kiss me. And there has always been a reason for that, but you're so caught up in your own wants and needs that you never took the time to listen! To really listen to me! You always want something from people, but I can't keep screwing up! I regret being with you. And it's not because I hate you but because I never could make you happy! You never gave me anything! You only made us feel guilty - Aidousan and me - when we couldn't make you any better. I bet you started dating him because you thought he could feeling your whiny little needs, but it turns out he had enough guts to walk away. I was proud of him until he started looking back at you. You'll always need, Yumi. That will never change. I can't make you better Yumi, I'm ****ed up enough myself without you!"

"I'll always need?" Yumi spat back. "That's a good one. Because saintly Yukito never thinks about himself, that's for sure! Always looking out for the greater good, always trying to swoop in and be the hero, right? Of course! You never think of yourself at all! Not when you're too scared to do anything for yourself, not when you're pushing someone away when they only want to be close to you. It's never 'me, me, me' with you, oh no! Yukito, you're such a stupid hypocrite!"

But then again, so am I.

"I gave you a part of me and constantly felt it rejected! Like you cared but you were too afraid to say anything. Just. Like. Always."

"You were more afraid of our relationship than I could ever be, you coward," she hissed as he leaned in closer. For a split second she thought he was going to kiss her, strike her, something. There was something in his eyes, something dangerous that scared her. Please don't hurt me anymore...

"If I have to crawl back to her time and again, I will. And you know why? Because she isn't afraid all the time. She has more guts than I'll ever have, and she's not afraid to live." Yukito backed away. "Erin... she wouldn't have asked me why we were here tonight. Because I was trying to give you a chance to tell me in your own words. She wouldn't have asked me how I could do this. She would be trying to find out what could be done. She wouldn't ask me to fix her. Ever. Every time I've screwed up, she tries to fix things with me, as a team, and when I'm not there, she loses something that I think I can fill. I lose something, and there's no words for how different I've been since. It goes both ways, and I don't always feel indebted to her, even when I'm the one afraid. Goodbye, Yumi. I'm sorry I screwed this up for you. But so did you, for trying to make us both believe a lie. I did love you, once. I really think I did."

And then he was gone, and Yumi, stupid, selfish Yumi, was left alone.

"No!" she cried, slamming her fist down on the table as hot tears stung her eyes. Ignoring the stares of the people around her, she dug out her cell phone and dialed Sunny's number. "Sunnychan. Take me home. Now."

She hung up before Sunny had a chance to respond.

An angry and emo Yumi has left House of Blues...O.o