#chikiko

It was dark, though the stars were bright. The thought that walking around at night with all that was going on in Inaba crossed Chie’smind, but she wasn’t alone. She was with Yukiko. The silence wasnice, just the sound of feet against the road. It wasn’t uncommon forsilence to fill the air when the two of them were alone. As of late,however, the silence had been becoming more and more strained. Thatwasn’t the case tonight. Both girls felt like a great big weight hadbeen lifted from their shoulders. Yukiko was finally regaining herstrength after her experience in the TV world, with her shadow. Theyhadn’t had much of a chance to talk since.

Itwas overdue.

Thetwo of them stopped on the Samegawa Flood Plain. Chie was the firstto plop onto the grass, leaning back on her hands and legs straightout in front of her. “This is where we first met,” Chiesaid quietly, finally breaking the silence. Yukiko sank down next toher, pulling her knees to her chest.

“Iwas going to run away,” Yukiko replied, a bit ruefully. “Guesssome things don’t change.”

“Yukiko…”Chie looked over at her friend. “It’s nothing to be ashamed of,you know…” she trailed off, thinking of her own shadow. Ifanyone should be feeling ashamed of what they were hiding, truly itshould be her. “There’s nothing wrong with wanting somethingdifferent.” Chie sighed, looking back out at the river. “I’msorry Yukiko. I haven’t been a good friend, huh?” She shouldhave been there for Yukiko, instead Yukiko was forced to deal withthese troubles on her own.

Chiewas broken out of her brooding by the feeling of Yukiko’s hand onhers. “We’ve talked about this already,” Yukiko gentlyreminded Chie. “I haven’t been the best friend lately, either.”

“We’llget through this, yeah?” Yukiko’s hand tightened around Chie’sfingers.

“Ofcourse.”

Chiesmiled gently at Yukiko before moving her hand so she could holdYukiko’s back. “I’d be lost without, Yukiko.”