Yumi bounded across the field that separated the village of 
Frango from the small hot spring in which she had just bathed. Nothing 
feels better after travelling than a warm bath, she reflected. Between 
that and the job that the village women had done with her clothing, she 
felt more upbeat than she had in days. She reached up and ran her 
fingers along the new rose pink ribbon that the woman who had fixed her 
dress had given her, and sighed. These kinds of people were the reasons 
why they fought. They were all so kind.

	She crested a small hill, and ran down the far side into the 
village proper. She slowed down as she entered, looking around at the 
small huts and the tents displaying exotic-looking wares. She passed 
one that was selling elaborate trinkets, and made a note to come back 
and get one for Tsugiko. Maybe a small present would make her feel 
better, she thought. Or at least get her to talk more.

	Carob's hut came into view, and she quickened her pace again. She 
and Kyouji had arranged to meet there once she was done, and as much as 
she liked the looks of some of the items for sale, she wanted to be 
back with her new boyfriend as soon as possible. She suppressed a 
giggle. Her boyfriend! She'd come a long way since Tokyo. The girls' 
school was lots of fun, and she had many good friends there, but there 
wasn't anyone like Kyouji there.

	She entered Carob's hut, and surveyed the area inside. The decor 
was nice, she decided, but her eyes gravitated to Kyouji. He was 
sitting in the middle of the room with his head down, apparently deep 
in thought. The hand she could see was clenched into a fist. She looked 
him over again, worried, but not sure she should break his train of 
thought. After a minute, she stepped across the room to him quietly, 
and said, "Kyouji, are you all right?"

	The boy raised his head and looked at her warily. Yumi noticed 
his brow was creased and his eyes serious. "I'm ... okay," he said 
hesitatingly, and stood up. He ran a hand across his chest, then across 
the hilt of his sword. "Yumi, we really have to talk."

	Yumi looked at him quizzically. "All right. What is it? You seem 
worried. Can I help?"

	"Yes. No." Kyouji blew out a frustrated breath. "Well, maybe. I'm 
confused, Yumi. Things are happening, and I'm not sure why. Like... 
like the way you've been treating me."

	Yumi stepped in closer to the boy. "Oh. Um... well, I didn't want 
to move too quickly. You understand, right? You're the first guy I've 
been with, you know." She beamed up at him. "And I do like you, of 
course, but I don't want to rush things." She bit her lip. "Is that 
OK?"

	"No. I mean, yeah, I wouldn't want to rush things either. But... 
wait. Yumi, didn't you say that you wouldn't assume we would date just 
because you wanted to?"

	"Of course! I would never force myself on someone." Her beam 
softened to a softer look. "You made all the difference." She rested 
her hand on his shoulder.

	Kyouji flinched inwardly. "Right. I'm glad that I'm different, 
Yumi, but, um..." He moved a hand to rub the back of his neck. "Yumi, 
what is it that made the difference? You didn't act like this before 
the swamp."

	Yumi nodded, and squeezed his shoulder gently. "Well, before 
then, I was only thinking about other people. Then I got some 
perspective, and I knew. I couldn't deny what I felt any more. I wanted 
to be with you."

	Kyouji nodded mutely, obviously searching for words. Yumi thought 
to herself as she watched him, and then tapped his shoulder playfully. 
"Or did you mean why you and not someone else? You shouldn't fish for 
compliments, Kyouji. But you're good, and kind, and, well, cute." She 
blushed, and looked down.

	Kyouji blushed himself. "Thanks, but... Yumi, it still doesn't 
explain why you think... um, why you thought..." He ran a hand through 
his hair, and grimaced. "What made you think that... well, that I 
was..."

	Yumi looked into his eyes again, and moved her hand off his 
shoulder. "Kyouji, what is it? Tell me, please. I just want to help 
you. I'm your girlfriend. Trust me!"

	Kyouji hung his head, before looking back up into her face, 
smiling weakly. "Nothing. Want to go get some food?"

>o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o<

The Starburst Crystal
Created by Ardweden 

Chapter 31: Dum-dum Mystery Pops 
by Capfox

>o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o<

	The restaurant inside the tent was small and cozy. The air 
smelled of warm spice and some fragrant vegetables, and the lights were 
low. Almost romantic, Kyouji thought. I should've known better than to 
let Yumi pick where we were going to go. Of course, she'd looked 
through the market already, and I hadn't. But we could've looked around 
more! His stomach rumbled, and he sighed. Not that he would turn down 
any food now, anyway.

	Yumi sat across from him, sipping some local concoction that was 
layers of something bright green and something sky blue. He couldn't be 
sure what it came from, but from the sip that Yumi had coyly offered 
him, it must have been the most sugary plant on Mars. Every time he 
tried to steer the conversation back towards what he wanted to know, 
Yumi misunderstood him and talked about how nice it was to be with him. 
And he'd gone months without being kicked under the table accidentally 
as many times as he had today. He had to figure out what was going on.

	He looked at Yumi and opened his mouth, but was interrupted by 
the arrival of the food. It was some sort of spotted orange meat, 
covered with a sauce the same sky blue color as parts of Yumi's drink, 
with what Kyouji recognized as sliced apple jacks sitting on the side 
of the plate. His stomach rumbled again.

	Yumi looked up at the waitress. "Thanks! Wow, this all looks 
great!"

	The woman smiled down at her. "Well, thank you! You're in great 
luck. Butterfinger steak is our cook's specialty, and this year we've 
been able to catch a lot of them. And the sauce complements it 
wonderfully. Enjoy!"

	Kyouji looked at the food, and cut it. He closed his eyes before 
sticking his fork in and eating the first bite. Funny that even after 
all this time here, I still can't look at this stuff when I eat it for 
the first time. Wherever we've gone, it's always been quite good. He 
chewed the meat, and swallowed. The meat was tender, and the sauce was 
spicy and sweet. He hurriedly cut himself another piece. Suddenly, 
orange and blue were very appetizing colors.

	"Isn't it delicious, Kyouji? And this place is so nice. I 
couldn't have picked a better place for our first date if I tried!"

	Kyouji winced slightly, and swallowed another piece. "Yeah, it's 
very nice, Yumi. But... there's still something we need to talk about."

	Yumi sipped from her drink, and nodded. "Whatever you want to 
talk about, Kyouji. Is there something important? Earlier today, before 
we got here, you were so quiet. What were you thinking about?" She 
pushed the drink across to him.

	Kyouji took a sip from a blue layer, and grimaced. That was way 
too sweet to be healthy. "Well, since you ask, I was thinking about you 
--"

	"Awww. That's so sweet, Kyouji! Thanks!" Yumi interrupted.

	Kyouji clenched a fist around his fork. "No, wait. I was thinking 
about you and Tsugiko, and the way you've both been behaving towards 
me."

	Yumi nodded. "Right. I know Tsugiko-chan seems upset. But she'll 
get used to it, with time. We can talk to her, and let her know we like 
her anyway. We're all still friends, after all."

	Kyouji sighed softly, and had another bite of steak. "Yes. We're 
all friends, Yumi. Good friends."

	Yumi winked at him. "But some of us are more, right?" She settled 
back into her seat. "I shouldn't get used to acting like that. That 
would really upset Tsugiko-chan."

	Kyouji looked down at the food, took a deep breath, and looked up 
again. "Yeah, it would. Yumi, I was wondering if you could tell me how 
you know I like you," he said in a rush.

	Yumi blinked. "You told me, remember? On our way to the Heath's." 
She leaned across the table to him. "You chose such a romantic setting. 
I'm so sorry I turned you down then. I wasn't thinking right."

	"I'm sure you were thinking just fine, Yumi. If the time wasn't 
right, then it wasn't right." It still isn't, he thought silently. "But 
why don't you tell me more about it?"

	Yumi cocked her head puzzledly. "Why? You remember what you said, 
right?"

	Kyouji hesitated, and looked down at his food, his mind racing. 
Without looking up, he said, "I just thought it would be nice to hear 
you describe it. You could tell me what it was like for you." He 
shifted in his seat. "Maybe it would feel right here."

	Yumi looked at him, then nodded and smiled. "Of course! Going 
back over your confession would be romantic here. Considering how it 
turned out the first time, I can understand you wanting to do it again 
now that you know what I'll say." She stopped, and finished her drink. 
"But don't you want to do it again, then?"

	Kyouji laughed nervously. "No, that's OK. I'd much rather hear 
you tell me. I'm sure you'll get the moment just right."

	Yumi's face looked slightly hurt for a second, then resolved to a 
dreamy smile. "All right. I'll tell you all about it, and make it sound 
just right. Let's see... it was late at night. I was on the second 
watch, after Tsugiko-chan. I thought both of you were asleep, and it 
was another uneventful watch. Just me and the moon.

	"Then I heard a noise behind me, and it was you. You came, and 
you sat with me, and we talked." She looked down at her lap. "First 
about Winis, and how I felt. You know that hit me really hard."

	Kyouji nodded quietly. "Yeah, it was hard for all of us, but 
especially you."

	"Yes. But I told you about it, and you told me it wasn't my 
fault, since I didn't kill him. You said I did everything I could to 
help. And you're right. You made me feel a lot better about that.

	"Then I asked you to tell me about what you were hiding, and you 
did. It took you a while, though. It was cute! You struggled so hard to 
tell me what you felt for me. Confessing your love is hard, I know. You 
looked so sweet. And I remember just what you said to me: `For all 
you've been, since you've been here, with me, I love you. Really. 
You.'"

	Kyouji looked back at her, his jaw hanging open. He clacked it 
shut, and numbly cut off another piece of meat. "And then?"

	"Well, at that point, I turned you down. I told you I couldn't do 
it to Tsugiko-chan. Now I realize, she'll come to understand. Love is 
hard to come by. It's not every day someone offers it to me. I told you 
then that I'd consider it, and I did. And now, I've accepted my 
feelings for you, too." She reached over and put her hand on top of his 
on the tabletop. "Now we can be happy together. And once Tsugiko-chan 
sees that, she'll be happy too."

	Kyouji flinched visibly, and looked up at her. He opened his 
mouth and closed it again. He looked out around the restaurant, and 
took in a deep breath. There was just no good way to say this, he 
thought. No matter how he tried to phrase it, it would come out bad. He 
twitched his hand out from under hers, opened his mouth again, lowered 
his gaze, and said, "I don't remember that."

	Yumi blinked. "What?"

	Kyouji spoke quietly, hating himself with every word. "I don't 
remember that. I'm sorry, but that wasn't me. If I had confessed to 
you, I would remember it. That's not something I would ever forget. I 
don't remember talking about Winis, or confessing, or being shot down. 
I don't know how it could be, but it wasn't me."

	Yumi looked shocked, but then rallied. She giggled, and brushed 
his hand again. "You're such a joker, Kyouji! How could it not be you? 
Tall, black hair, deep brown eyes, blue crystal in the forehead. Cape 
and sword. I know what you look like. You can't fool me!"

	Kyouji moved his hands into his lap, and looked down at his 
plate. "I can't explain it. I have no idea how it happened. I don't 
even know how it could happen! But it wasn't me. I didn't do that. You 
think I would lie about this?"

	Yumi leaned back in her seat, her arms arms limp at her sides. "I 
guess not. This isn't the sort of thing you'd joke about. But, 
Kyouji... how? How could it not be you? I know you. I've been living 
with you for so long."

	"I don't know, Yumi. If I had answers, I'd tell you. I promise, 
I'll figure it out. We'll figure it out." He looked up at her face, 
trying to look confident, but his facade crumbled when he saw her face.

	Yumi was looking down towards his chest, a tentative smile on her 
face and tears in her eyes. "Kyouji, even if it wasn't you, you do like 
me, right? Now that I've confessed to you. We can still be together, 
right?"

	Kyouji clenched a fist in his lap, and lowered his head again. 
"Yumi... I'm so sorry. I really like you. You're a great person. You're 
strong, and noble, and helpful. And you are pretty. But, I can't. Right 
now, we're just friends. Good friends." He forced himself to look back 
into her teary eyes. "I won't say no forever. But I have to say no for 
now."

	Yumi gulped in a breath, and forced herself to look back at him 
steadily, even as the tears started to roll from her eyes. "Of course, 
Kyouji-san. I understand. We can be friends. Just like before!"

	"Of course we can." Kyouji nodded, trying to look stronger than 
he felt. "Let's go find Tsugiko. If someone else was around the camp 
that night, maybe she noticed something out of the ordinary." And maybe 
she can tell me what happened with her, he silently added.

	"Right, Kyouji-san. Let's go. I'm not hungry any more anyway."

	They got up from the table hesitantly, and Kyouji left a few gild 
for the waitress. He led the way towards the door. Halfway there, she 
hugged him from behind, and cried into his back. He stood quietly, and 
ran his hands over hers on his chest, hung his head, and sighed.

>o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o<

	Tsugiko sat on the outskirts of Frango, looking over some maps 
that Carob had given her after she had gotten back from the market. It 
wasn't so hard to get to Guylian from here, but it would take a while. 
She frowned. Hopefully the Twixes didn't know any shortcuts. The last 
thing they needed was another run in with their Yumi-enhanced rivals.

	She heard footsteps approaching the rock she was sitting on, and 
looked up from her planning. Great, she thought. The lovebirds have 
arrived. Upon looking closer, though, neither of them looked happy. 
They weren't touching each other, and they were walking slowly towards 
her. Kyouji just looked somber and determined, but Yumi looked flat-out 
sad. Her eyes looked bloodshot, and her gaze kept flicking from Tsugiko 
to Kyouji and back.

	Tsugiko rolled up the map and stood up. "What's going on? Did 
something happen? Did someone attack?"

	They stood side by side in front of her. Kyouji said, "No, 
there's no attack. But we need to talk, Tsugiko."

	The green-clad girl stuck the map under her arm. "Oh? What do we 
have to talk about, Kyouji?" she said sarcastically.

	Kyouji blushed slightly, and he looked down at the ground in 
front of Tsugiko. "Well, that's the thing. It's, um..." He trailed off, 
before continuing, "This may sound strange, Tsugiko, and I don't want 
you to take offense, but I need to ask. All right?"

	Tsugiko raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"

	"Well, um. Tsugiko, did I, er. Did you see anyone the night we 
stayed in the mountains before we got to the Heaths?"

	Tsugiko shot a glare at Kyouji. "What are you playing at?"

	Kyouji waved his hands. "Nothing, nothing! I was talking with 
Yumi, and we think something strange happened that night. You were 
around by yourself while we were in town and on the first watch. So you 
did see something?"

	Tsugiko moved her glare to Yumi, then back to Kyouji again. "You 
think something strange happened. Well, that's a nice way of putting 
it."

	Yumi stepped towards Tsugiko. "So, you did see someone, Tsugiko-
chan?"

	Tsugiko spoke through gritted teeth without moving her eyes from 
Kyouji. "Not during my watch, no, but while you were gone in town, 
yeah, I talked with someone."

	Kyouji nodded. "Good! Could you tell who it was?"

	Tsugiko narrowed her eyes. "Kyouji, what are you trying to do? 
I'm not going to play these games with you. I really don't have the 
patience for it. Not after all that's happened the past few days."

	Kyouji sighed. "Let me guess. You saw me."

	Tsugiko's eyes flashed. "Of course I saw you! You know that. Why 
are you talking about this here?" She glared at Yumi.

	Kyouji looked over at Yumi, and flinched inwardly. "Did I say 
anything to you?"

	Tsugiko's jaw set, and her hands clenched into fists. "Look, 
Kyouji. I don't know what kind of sick satisfaction you're getting out 
of talking about this in front of your girlfriend, but I'm not having 
any of it."

	Kyouji looked warily over at Yumi. "Tsugiko, she's not my 
girlfriend."

	"Right. Of course she's not! Kyouji, I'm not stupid. I've seen 
you two together since the swamp. Don't insult me."

	Yumi let out a brief, sad laugh. "No, Tsugiko-chan. I'm not his 
girlfriend. Really, I'm not."

	Tsugiko blinked, and turned to face Yumi with a surprised look on 
her face. "You're not? But I thought that-well, never mind. Guess I was 
wrong." She looked more thoroughly at Yumi's face. "You OK?"

	Yumi nodded as convincingly as she could, and looked at Kyouji. 
He said, "Tsugiko, please. I need you to tell me what happened. Will 
you tell me, please?"

	"Kyouji. Even if you're not doing this for some weird reason, you 
don't need me to tell you. You were there," she said reasonably.

	Kyouji sighed. "Believe it or not, there's a good reason for it. 
Please, just tell me?"

	Tsugiko scowled. "I don't see why you need this. And I'm not 
going to talk about this in front of Yumi, whether or not she's your 
girlfriend."

	Yumi forced a transparent smile. "Right, it's personal. I 
understand, Tsugiko-chan. I'll just go back to Carob's house." She 
turned to go back to the village.

	A thought of a girl she'd met earlier that day ran through 
Tsugiko's mind, and she raised a hand towards Yumi. "Wait, Yumi, 
please." She waited until the pink priestess turned around. "Look, I 
don't mean any offense by this. But I just can't say this in front of 
you. Sorry. I don't mean anything by it. We'll meet up back at Carob's 
house later, OK?"

	Yumi blinked a few times, then nodded brightly to Tsugiko. 
"Right, Tsugiko-chan. I'll see you later." She walked off towards the 
village.

	Tsugiko waited until Yumi had passed from sight, and then sighed. 
"Let's go for a walk into the forest. Carob said this side is safe this 
time of year, and I don't want to talk right here." She turned on her 
heel and walked into the forest, leaving Kyouji to follow.

>o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o<

	After fifteen minutes of walking, the pair reached a small 
clearing in the woods. The trees were blooming with small violet and 
red flowers, and apple jacks hung from the branches. Tsugiko reached 
the middle of the clearing and swiveled on her heel to face Kyouji. 
"Well?"

	"Well what?"

	"Why do you want to know about this, Kyouji? You just want me to 
go back over something painful?"

	He hesitated, then nodded. "I'm sorry, Tsugiko. I don't want to 
hurt you, but I need you to tell me. Because..." he trailed off, and 
rubbed his neck. "You won't believe me if I tell you. But please, 
Tsugiko, as a favor to me. I need to know. Just tell me." He looked 
pleadingly at the girl.

	Tsugiko looked warningly at Kyouji. "If you're jerking me around, 
Kyouji, I swear, I will make the Jawbreaker look like a water snake."

	Kyouji nodded quickly. "I'm not. Just trust me. Please?"

	Tsugiko looked at him one more time, then sighed and leaned 
against a tree at the side of the clearing. "Fine. Well, you and Yumi 
had just left to go to the town to get supplies and try to get 
information. A few minutes later, you came back. You said you forgot 
the money. But instead of leaving, you stuck around to talk.

	"You told me that you admired me for what I did. That you weren't 
all that much of a Knight Protector, and that you appreciated me saving 
the day all the time, even though it's not in my nature to be the hero. 
Oh, and you talked about how helpful Yumi was, too. You know, even when 
you try to be complimentary to me, you can't pull it off?"

	Kyouji shook his head mutely. Tsugiko waited for him to say 
something, but when he didn't, she continued, "Well. You told me I was 
noble, and that the more time you spent with me, the more you came to 
realize that I'm good. And then you said, and I quote, `For all you've 
been, since you've been here, with me, I love you.' Quite the romantic 
moment, I've got to say. Too bad it didn't really mean anything to 
you."

	Kyouji dropped his jaw. Despite himself, he said, "Why do you say 
that?"

	"Because you got together with Yumi right afterwards. And even if 
you didn't, you didn't act any differently! All right, I turned you 
down. Pretty harshly, at that. But you know, it didn't faze you at all. 
So you must not have cared much."

	Kyouji looked back, his mouth opening and closing. Tsugiko 
sighed. "So, now that I've gone through all of that again, why don't 
you tell me why I had to." She levelled a gaze on the blue-clad boy.

	Kyouji fidgeted with his cape, and looked at Tsugiko's feet. 
"Well, you see... um. It's just that, well. Um." He sighed. "Tsugiko, I 
don't remember saying or doing any of that. And I would, if I did."

	Tsugiko slitted her eyes. "What do you mean, you don't remember?"

	"I don't know! It's like it wasn't even me! Someone did the same 
thing to Yumi, while she was on her watch that night. They came and 
confessed to her. I don't remember that, either."

	Tsugiko crosses her arms. "Of course it was you. I know what you 
look like, what you sound like. The hair, the crystal, the smile. Don't 
try to tell me it wasn't you."

	"Tsugiko, I'm not joking! Something really strange is going on 
here. I don't know who could have done it, but it wasn't me. I never 
told you that. I didn't tell that to Yu-"

	Tsugiko interrupted him forcefully, stepping towards him. "You 
never told me that," she growled. "What, you can't even admit that you 
tried? Is it so embarassing, the idea that you could like me, Kyouji? 
That anyone could? So much so that you can't even let it be that you 
could have done it?"

	Kyouji blanched before Tsugiko's attack. "Tsugiko, no, that's not 
it -"

	Tsugiko's face flushed. "No, of course not! Because I can't have 
figured out your scheme, either! How horrible of me to accuse you of 
lying about you coming and saying you love me! Why would I make that 
up, Kyouji? It doesn't help me at all. I love you, after all. You know 
that? However stupid it may be, after all this time."

	Kyouji stepped back, and looked into her face wild-eyed. 
"Tsugiko, I didn't know you still -"

	"How could you not! When I said it before, just yesterday! Do you 
think my feelings change so quickly? That when I said that I loved you, 
it was just a stupid game, a girl's prank on the mighty Knight 
Protector? I'm so sorry to sully you with the mere idea that you could 
love me, or that I could love you. I know, my love is so much of a 
burden to bear."

	Kyouji waved his hands in front of him. "Tsugiko, please, let me 
-"

	"No! I'm going to finish! I'm just tired of all this, you know? 
Since day one, I liked you. And through all this time, I liked you. 
When will I learn? It's just not going to work. I don't know why I beat 
myself up like this any more. I don't know why I put up with you. 
Saving the planet just doesn't seem like it's enough any more."

	Kyouji's face started to turn red. "Tsugiko! Please! I want to-"

	"I don't care what you want! Being saddled with all of this, it 
makes me sick. This was the most cowardly thing you've ever done, 
Kyouji. This was just wrong. You couldn't even let me have the memory 
of you admitting you liked me. Even if you didn't! Even if nothing ever 
happened between us! Not even that tiny little moment."

	Kyouji stood up straight, his face reddened, and tried one more 
time. "Tsugiko! Just listen to -"

	The green clad girl waved her hands wildly, stepping in close and 
looked right into Kyouji's face. "No. I've had it! I've had it with 
hiding how I feel, with not telling you what I think! I think that 
maybe, just once, you should get past your stupid nature and just see 
that admitting you like someone isn't the end of the world. Even me. 
But you have to cover it all up, take away even the fact that you said-
"

	"I LIKE YOU, DAMN IT! LET ME TALK!" Kyouji bellowed.

	Tsugiko blinked. Then she blinked again. Quietly, she said, 
"What?"

	Kyouji sighed loudly, and spoke softly. "I like you, Tsugiko. I 
really do. You're a great person. You're all of those things that you 
said that I said. OK? Understand me?"

	Tsugiko nodded, and stepped back a pace. "I hear you," she said 
dazedly.

	Kyouji fidgeted with the hilt of his sword with one hand. "But, 
Tsugiko, there are two things that go with that. I still don't remember 
being there. Whoever told you those things, even if all the compliments 
were true, it wasn't me."

	Tsugiko started again. "Kyouji, it was you. It looked just like 
you, sounded just like you-"

	Kyouji interrupted her. "But it wasn't me. I don't know who it 
was. Believe me." He stepped towards her, bowing down a bit to look 
right in her eyes. "Tsugiko, I would never, ever do something that 
would hurt someone that much. I wouldn't lie about that. It wasn't me. 
And when we find out who it really was, I will make sure that they pay 
for all this. No one should hurt anyone this much."

	Tsugiko nodded, and grinned nastily. "I think I can help with 
that."

	Kyouji nodded. "Yeah, I'm sure you will. We'll take care of them 
together. Do you want to head back to Frango now? There's not much left 
to discuss." He looked down at the ties on his cape, securing them more 
soundly and preparing to depart.

	"Wait," Tsugiko said softly. Kyouji turned his head back, and saw 
her standing, looking at him searchingly. She continued, "Do you, 
really?"

	Kyouji looked confused. "Really what?"

	"Like me. You know, love me."

	Kyouji slumped forward slightly, and looked at her. "Honest?"

	She nodded, and looked into his eyes. "Of course, honest. After 
all these lies, I don't want anything else."

	Kyouji sighed. "I don't know, Tsugiko. You're a very good friend. 
I might like you more than that. I need more time to sort things out."

	Tsugiko moved into a more aggressive posture. "More time? You've 
had months! You've got to know. Tell me. I don't want to wait any 
more."

	Kyouji shook his head. "I haven't had months. We spend so much of 
our time fighting through troops, or monsters, or just to survive, that 
I don't think about it very often. I've got ideas, but they don't leave 
me decisive."

	Tsugiko laughed sharply. "Of course, Kyouji. Far be it from you 
to make a decision. So tell me your ideas."

	Kyouji shook his head again. "I can't, Tsugiko. This was all 
dumped on me, by whoever pretended to be me." Tsugiko grimaced at that. 
"I need to work out how I feel about you, and about Yumi. I just need a 
little more time."

	Tsugiko gave him a reproachful look. "Sure. Fine. You have until 
Guylian. Then I want an answer. All right?"

	"Um... OK. Fine. Guylian. That should be enough." Kyouji said in 
a surprised voice.

	"Good. I'm tired of waiting, but I can wait that much longer. It 
should only be another few days."

	Kyouji nodded. "And look. If I told you yes now, we'd never know 
whether it was because we really wanted it, or because some guy 
manipulated us into it. I need time to be clear and level to decide 
what I really feel." He smiled self-confidently. "We deserve that, 
right?"

	Tsugiko smiled in spite of herself. "All right. You've got your 
time. Let's get going back to the village. I'm hungry."

>o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o<

Author's notes:
Hoo boy! That was lots and lots of fun. Even under my normal stressed 
time condition setting. The experiment for next time: Start a part more 
than 24 hours before it's due! This one was only about 12.

Still, I think it turned out pretty well. It wouldn't have turned out 
nearly as well if it wasn't for my stalwart pre-readers, Greg and 
Nathan. And I asked a bunch of people for help here, but I'll thank Nic 
specifically for really helping me pull together the end. Big momentous 
decisions are hard to decide. I'm a lot like Kyouji that way. ^^;

For once, a part that isn't the longest I've written! Still, not too 
bad. I'm happy with this one, all things considered. And it was a 
blast. I can't wait to do it again. ^_^

The usual deal: I want feedback! I can't improve without feedback! If 
you have the time, drop me a review on the message board, or send me an 
email. Thanks for reading.

Capfox
Tsuwabuki@utena.org
3/23/02