"You need rest, Mikaela," Emiliana said quietly as I all but collapsed on their bar. Yuu had left early from my coffee shop, which meant that I was left to fend for myself. The fact that half of the photography department had discovered my cafe and had decided to raid me of my coffee did not help in the slightest.

"I need more coffee, abuelita. That's what I need," I grumbled against the counter. Marìa choked on her (frozen and then thawed) burrito beside me.

"When did you teach him that, child?" Her mother snapped, stern and scolding.

"Five years ago! I didn't think he'd actually remember it, I swear!" She cried defensively, glancing down to the eye I kept open to survey them, although it was partially covered by hair.

"I don't forget things like that very easily."

"You don't forget much of anything, sweetheart. Even when it hurts, I don't think you let the memories go."

"Mom that was deep."

"Not really. This kid's just depressing all the time, so I guess it rubbed off on me," Emiliana teased, ruffling my hair. "Jesus Christ, what conditioner do you use?"

"Coconut oil. Stop stroking my hair, please."

"Oh wow you actually said please for once. What's gotten into you?" Emiliana prodded, her strangely gentle touch leaving the side of my head. I thought upon my answer for a moment.

"Yuu has, I'm assuming," I said quietly. "I've been acting far more... compassionate. And I hate it."

"That's what love does to you, dear. It can either be your weakness or your strength. But, for you, it seems to be both. You've started taking care of yourself, whether you notice it or not," Emiliana murmured.

"And you're a lot happier since he came into your life. Always laughing and smiling. Makes me kind of jealous, you know?" The teenager beside her sighed almost whimsically.

"You're still young, Marìa. Give it time," I said.

"And up like you? Mika, your life may be luxurious and you might be beautiful, but admit it. It's lonely."

"Was lonely. Then I got hit in the face with a volley ball and got some sense knocked into me."

"Ouch."

"I don't doubt he's felt worse, love," her mother said almost sympathetically.

"How would you know?"

"Mother's instinct. Don't doubt it even once, Marìa," Emiliana said assertively. "And I've seen you with the bandages all over your back," she whispered in a tone that was only reserved for me. Before I could even deny that I did in fact have bandages on those times she had winked at me and changed the subject.
"Marìa, didn't you want to ask Mikaela something?"

"Oh, right. I need help with my homework and my good for nothing mother insists I get your assistance."

Right. She was only seventeen. One would think that, despite how childish she acted, that she was my age.

"It's math, isn't it," I sighed.

"Correct!" Emiliana chirped, sauntering off with her daughter's empty plate.

So that was how I ended up spending three hours attempting to teach Marìa calculus. At some point Emiliana had wandered from behind her confinements of the bar and pulled my hair out of my face using a black hair tie that was one of many on her wrist.

I had managed to get it done, of course. She had murmured 'fuck this subject, i'm dropping out' on the last question, though.

"Make sure to get some sleep, Mikaela! It's important!" Emiliana called out from the door, arms folded beneath one another.

"Don't do it! If I don't sleep neither do you!" Marìa cried from a window, dramatically pressed against it.

"I will! Not to you, Marìa. I've had my fair share of sleepless nights!" I responded loudly before vanishing into my car.

I checked my phone before I drove off. Just in case.

But did not expect fifteen missed calls from Yuu.

I heaved a long sigh, phone resting on my thigh, head leaning back in my seat. Then I called him back.

He picked up in two seconds.

"You're alright," he heaved a sigh in relief once I began chewing him out for calling me so many times.

"Why wouldn't I? I was at Demeter's diner and ended up staying longer than I thought. Did you need something?"

"No, no, it's not that. I wanted to know if I could go to your place before our job tonight, but that doesn't seem likely," He rambled, words jumbled together.

"There's always after, pet," I said, rather thoroughly amused by his flustered stature.

"But you need sleep-"

"You have done it before. Although, I do need to sleep at some point. You can stay, nevertheless."

"Oh, alright. If you insist," He said, in a teasing voice that angered me in just the right way. It was his constant switch between the Yuu I had met that day on the beach, and of the suave Ghost that was always on my tail. "I will stay. But the two of us? Alone? Who knows what the others might think."

"Oh? Scandalous, my pet."

'Gay' popped up on my stereo, a silent reminder that Cynthia was ever present in my now ignited car.

Well, of course it is, Cynthia. I'm trying to get Yuu in my bed, not my kitchen, I thought to myself as I backed out of the parking lot of the diner.

"You're making me blush,"  he laughed, a sound very unlike his normal laugh. One that flowed like rich caramel and sent shivers down my spine.

"Just my intent."

"Oh, fuck off," I heard Yuu groan a moment later.

"I'm fine. Stop hiding from me." It was Mitsuba. I heard the rustling of sheets, and Yuu mutter angrily to himself.

"Mitsu~ I need your help~" Shinoa had cooed from what I assumed to be Yuu's apartment front door.

"I really hate the fact that you taught them how to pick locks," he sighed once I heard the door snap closed.

"They will regret it later," I said with surefire confidence. He laughed, quite possibly imagining the same as I.

"Just hope its not Yoichi. He's nicer than the others."

"The only light in a room of darkness, if you ask me."

By the end of the night, our teasing and lust filled conversation led to nothing. One factor was that, when we entered my apartment, there were bags of pre-prepared meals on my counters. Not from Alyssum, I knew. He was out at the same time as us that night, causing chaos downtown. Sombra told us that she assumed that he left thirty minutes before us and left thirty minutes after, always lingering at his crime scenes.

Just the opposite of us.

We don't want to see the bridge we burn behind us.

But he wants to watch as it turns to ashes.

It's curious.

That a pyromaniac could be far more sadistic than the Beast himself.

Curious indeed.