homeless forever

[neverlethergo]

Ehe... Isn't this so much better? I'm free... Not sure where Yukiko is right now but I'll find her soon enough. Make sure she doesn't go out of my sight again. Who does she think she is?

Anyway--I'm not surprised I showed up again. Can't keep me down forever, can you? This is just the beginning, ha.

Comments

[neverlethergo]

How I could think anything else if I was the last one to know about that job license, huh?

[There's a smile, bigger than anything Chie would normally wear.]

You'd leave anyway thee city, probably making better friends than me. I don't want you to leave me. I don't you ever to leave me.

[fans_fire]

You weren't the last to know. I just wanted everything to be in place before I told you anything...

[She stops at that, expression tightening a little]

I shouldn't have to explain this to you. The real Chie would understand.

[neverlethergo]

It hurts you to hear the truth, Yukiko. Never had to go through this before but I was there in that castle. I'm not even important enough to have my own place. I may be the own in control but you'll always outshine me.

[That smile doesn't fade.]

Do you think I wouldn't be hurt? That I wouldn't be angry?

[fans_fire]

You weren't there long enough to have your own place. And I would hope that if you were hurt, you would tell me so I could fix it.

[neverlethergo]

What if I didn't want you to leave?

[fans_fire]

If you're really my friend, you'd be happy for me even if we'd miss each other.

[neverlethergo]

Nobody would replace you. Nobody would rely on me like that. It might be good for you...It would hurt a lot. I'm not sure I'd be able to take it.

[fans_fire]

Chie...

[Even if it's not the real Chie, the thought of hurting her best friend is still a pretty obvious button]

[neverlethergo]

I'm not half as strong as you think I am, Yukiko... I know that you probably would be happier elsewhere but I'll need you here.

[As long as Yukiko is there, with her, the Shadow doesn't care even if that mocking smile is long gone.]

[fans_fire]

That's not true, Chie. You are strong, and wouldn't it be better if you let that help everyone instead of wasting it all on just me?

[neverlethergo]

It's not a waste at all! I want to help you, protect you. I want to go back, sometimes, when it just you and me. It was so simple back then. It's not too late...

[fans_fire]

Chie, you deserve more. You shouldn't have to carry me any more...that's why I wanted to do this by myself. So that even if I didn't leave, I could still show you that you don't have to worry...and we would still be friends.

[neverlethergo]

I don't carry you! You're not a burden. I want to be there... If I'm not then you'll start to drift away. I want to be your best friend. I want to be the one you'll always come back to. I don't want to be replaced... Yukiko...

[fans_fire]

I won't! Chie...I'll always come back. No matter what happens, you're my best friend and nothing's going to change that.

[neverlethergo]

...I like it when you say things like that. I really do.

[fans_fire]

I'm sorry if I don't say it enough. But whether or not I stay in Inaba, that doesn't change anything about us...at least, I don't want it to change anything.

[neverlethergo]

I don't want it to change. I want it to stay like this. I want you keep saying those things.

[fans_fire]

And I can. You're my best friend, no matter what.

[neverlethergo]

Ehe...that's right...

[Oh wait. That smile is back.]

[fans_fire]

So...you don't need to worry, okay?

[The smile is a good sign. The smile is terrifying but having Chie - any Chie, even if not the real one - upset with her is even worse]

[neverlethergo]

Hah... Alright. You'll still my best friend, after all. When you say things like that, how can I stay mad at you.

[fans_fire]

Okay, good. I'm glad we got this sorted out.

[neverlethergo]

Good, because at the end of the day you're still mine.

[fans_fire]

...Huh?

[neverlethergo]

You belong to me.