FOOTSTEPS IN THE NIGHT
Chibi-Imp
chibi_imp@lycos.com

STANDARD DISCLAIMER:
YUA belongs to Kosuke Fujishima and Co.

<GRUMBLE!>

Her hand immediately reached down to touch her stomach. Her face coloured slightly, then she laughed sheepishly. Her laugh echoed eerily in her room, making her pause.

Damn, it wasn't like her to be so jittery. She kicked off her covers and swung her legs over the side of the bed, her toes grasping her furry slippers. She stood and took a few, tentative steps towards the door.

<CLANG! BANG! RING!>

The horrendously loud cacophony of sounds rang in her ears, making her completely lose her balance as her foot completely snagged against the threads connecting her alarm clock to pots and pans and castanets (Miyuki's latest attempt at waking her up). She hit the floor with a loud BAM! and the clanging sounds began again with a vengeance.

She crawled over to the doorway, trying to get ahold of her senses. The clanging sounds subdued rather slowly and the last tune echoed softly.

"This will definitely be noted as one of my creepiest moments," She muttered, just to add noise.

Silence descended once more.

She stood up and hurried into the hallway. She heard the scraping sound of her slippers against the tiled floor.

`That was all it was, right? Just scraping against the floor?'

Shaking her head, she ran all the way to the kitchen and snapped on the light switch. The light flickered, but wouldn't turn on. She snapped off the switch, sighing. She was acting foolish anyway. At least, that's what she kept telling herself as she reached for the refrigerator door.

<scrape, scrape...>

She stood very still then, heaving a deep breath. Shrugging, she kicked off her slippers.

<scrape, scrape...>

Natsumi stiffened, her hand still poised at the fridge's door handle.

<scrape, scrape...>

Natsumi could barely hear anymore, due to the loud pounding of her heart, but she felt the presence behind her.

She turned slowly, then came face to face with a very pale face of a young woman. Her mouth was slightly open. Her eyes were glazed over, and she seemed to stare right through Natsumi.

Natsumi's scream was heard throughout the entire floor of their apartment building.

* * *

"What?! Miyuki's sleepwalking?" Yoriko exclaimed.

"SHH!" Natsumi hissed. "I don't want to upset her. She's never done this before."

"Are you sure Natsumi? You've only been staying up for the past three night to watch over her, as you've said. Maybe she's done it before and you never knew about it."

"I've thought of that. Miyuki has this state-of-the-art camera system on at night in case of intruders. Sicne we don't have any, she usually tosses the tapes to a side to be reused next month. I checked. She only started the night before she scared the freaking life out of me!"

"Oh, dear, what could be causing it then?" Aoi wondered.

"I've heard that these things are psychological. Maybe we should tell Miyuki. She ought to see a doctor."

"You mean a shrink?" Natsumi shook her head vehemently as Yoriko nodded. "She'll think she has some problem with her mind."

"Yeah...I guess so...besides I heard shrinks charge a lot of money without much results," Yoriko added.

"Really? The police department I belonged to a few year's back tried sending me to one...he was really nice," Aoi said.

Natsumi and Yoriko exchanged a knowing glance.

"Ok, so a psychiatrist isn't the answer..." Natsumi muttered.

"Sleepwalking is caused by a troubled mind. Old folks would say it's cause by stress, but their forefathers said it better: It's caused by a sense of deep longing, a yearning so poignant, it maps into one's subconscious, causing him/her to have a troubled descent into his/her subconscious...the journey of sleep."

Natsumi, Yoriko, and Aoi turned blankly towards the chief.

He cleared his throat. "Kobayakawa has been very busy this week, what with the central station asking her to rewrite their database system. Perhaps her stress has caused her to forget some things...or to truly feel the burden of unfulfilled dreams. Think on it."

"Wow, chief..." Yoriko said. "That was pretty deep."

"Yeah, you really care about the people in this department, don't you?" Natsumi said, smiling fondly.

"Actually, I was merely trying to set things aright so things would start running smoothly in this station again, particularly where my morning coffee is concerned," He replied dryly.

"Oh, my! I'm so sorry!" Aoi exclaimed, sprinting off to get the coffee.

The chief nodded and turned back to his table.

"So, what unfulfilled wish could Miyuki have?" Natsumi mused.

Yoriko and Natsumi glanced at each other.

"Na-ka-ji-ma-kun."

* * *

And so it came to be that Nakajima stood nervously by the entrance to the park, awaiting with a sense of anticipation (and apprehension) his companion for the day.

`Damn, I'm nervous enough as it is, did they have to rub it in?' He closed his eyes tightly in exasperation, but it only made the memory creep back in his mind.

*flashback*

"So we're clear on this, right Nakajima?" Yoriko said.

"That's right! You gotta give Miyuki what she wants! You can't have her wasting herself like this! She could get into a serious accident if we don't stop this now!"

"what...Kobayakawa...wants?" He said weakly.

"What every girl wants, of course! A kiss from the man she cares about!"

"a...a..."

*end flashback*

"I can't!" Nakajima cried out loud, shaking his head vehemently. "I can't do such a thing...at least not now...and yet...and yet...Kobayakawa's well being is at stake!" He clenched his fists, tears streaming down his face. "What's a stud like me to do?!"

"Uh...Nakajima-kun?"

"YAAA!!!" He jumped, eyes widening as he saw Miyuki's tentative form. "Ah...ah...K...Kobayakawa...I uh...uh..."

She smiled brightly at him. "Shall we go? The show's going start soon."

"Uh..uh...right..."

As soon as the couple left, three heads popped out of the bushes behind them.

"Stud, right," Natsumi muttered.

"He's a hopeless case." Yoriko sniffed. Aoi sighed in assent. Natsumi frowned.

"Well he better not botch this up...the directions we gave him were clear enough..."

* * *

Pick a romantic movie...find a dark corner at the back of the moviehouse...and let nature take its course...

Nakajima gripped the popcorn so hard, the topmost contents spilled over. Thankfully, it was already dark. Miyuki wouldn't notice how he's hand shook.

"Do you want to sit so far from the screen Nakajima-kun?" Miyuki said, slightly confused.

"Uh...uh..." They were at the 2nd row from the farthest one in the cinema. It was dark and secluded enough. Nakajima gulped. "Uh...I uh...have sensitive eyes...must be from wearing shades too much."

"Oh, I see," Miyuki blinked, then smiled. "Ok, then." She slid gracefully into a seat, Nakajima jerkily sitting in the one next to her.

<THUD, THUD, THUD!>

"Ah, the movie's starting..."

<BAM! BAM! BAM!>
"Hmm...the music's really nice..." Miyuki commented.

Nakajima's heart pounded so loudly he barely heard her comment, much less the music. He steadied himself and took several, deep, gulping breaths. He watched Miyuki's face as the movie screen flickered, the colors reflecting on her face.

"K...Kobayakawa..."

"Hmm?" Miyuki blinked and turned to him, a hint of smile on her face.

`It's now...or never...!'

"Oh, my darling love!"

Nakajima made a strangling sound.

"Oh, honey!"

Miyuki blushed deep red.

The couple behind them continued their expressions of love (verbally and physically), oblivious to their embarrassment.

Miyuki cleared her throat and nodded at Nakajima. They immediately moved to a more crowded area, where the people were avidly watching the screen.

"Honestly! Can you believe them, Nakajima?" Miyuki whispered. "What do they think a movie theater is for, anyway?" She shook her head sadly.

"Uh...yeah...right, right." Nakajima sighed. He wasn't sure if it was due to relief or disappointment.

* * *

"Well, that was a total bust," Natsumi muttered.

"Yeah, you'd think Nakajima would've chosen a more secluded area!" Yoriko complained.

"Oh, but the movie was nice."

Natsumi and Yoriko sent Aoi withering looks.

"And look where he's taking her now!" Yoriko exclaimed. "When's he ever going to learn?!"

The trio watched as Nakajima and Miyuki entered a hardware store.

"Oh, well," Natsumi said. "There's still the special dinner, anyway. Besides, I may as well get a light bulb to replace the kitchen light. If I'm going to have to watch over Miyuki, I may as well do so with lights on. I'm starting to get really creeped out!"

Amazingly enough, the trip to the hardware store was more fruitful than the movie. Miyuki and Nakajima were more at ease discussing simple things like nuts and bolts. Plus, Natsumi was able to get the kitchen light she needed. Everything was left up to dinner...

* * *

Time was running out. Dinner had passed. Dessert had passed. Miyuki was looking more and more relaxed, and finally, the longest time they would ever have undisturbed in the restaurant, the time it took to wait for the bill...had arrived...

"Uh...uh...Kobya...uh..."

She cocked her head, smiling up at him. "What is it, Nakajima-kun?"

He gulped. He just couldn't do it...not with her staring up at him like that.

`That's it!'

"Uh, I'd rather...you uh...can you close your eyes for a few moments...uh, please?"

"All right, but why..."

"It's a surprise."

Miyuki smiled, nodded, and dutifully closed her eyes.

Nakajima leaned closer...

...and was suddenly struck by Miyuki's beauty. His hand reached out, not really touching her face, but hovering close by, as though he were in awe. She looked so young and pretty and...

"I'm new to this sort of thing," Miyuki said with a laugh. "Am I supposed to hold out my hands?" She held out her palms, expecting him to place his surprise there.

...so darned innocent.

He couldn't do it. He couldn't take advantage of her trust. He now stared dumbfounded at the outstretched palms.

A few moments passed until Miyuki felt something graze her hands. It was very light. She opened her eyes to find...

...the bill?!

She blinked up in surprise at Nakajima's red face.

"I uh...seemed to have left my wallet...I'll pay you back tomorrow...I promise...I'm really sorry."

* * *

"Oooh, that idiot!" Natsumi seethed.

"This was a total waste of time and effort!" Yoriko wailed. "Not to mention...!"

"The food here sure is good!" Aoi commented, taking a bite of her dessert. "What?" He blinked up at Natsumi and Yoriko's deadly expressions.

Natsumi and Yoriko stood, leaving Aoi to pay the rather large bill. Aoi shouldn't be pitied, however. The head manager saw the two girls leave and assumed they left their other companion in spite. Entranced by Aoi's beauty, he declared "her" the 1000th customer of their establishment and took care of the bill.

Back at Miyuki and Natsumi's apartment.

"Well...good night, Nakajima-kun," Miyuki said as she entered her apartment and shut the door firmly.

"G...good night," He mumbled, hanging his head. What more was there to say? He was a total failure...a wuss...a...

"NAKAJIMA!!! YOU ARE A TOTAL FAILURE!! A WUSS!! A..."

<STAB! STAB! STAB>

True, he had been thinking it...but to hear it actually said out loud...

"YEEK!" He exclaimed at the sight of Natsumi's rage. "I...I'm sorry...I..."

"You've got a lot of fixing up to do buddy!"

His irritation at himself rose to the surface. "Well what was I supposed to do? Take advantage of her trust? To kiss her out of the blue like that...she'd never speak to me again!"

"Personally, I think having her foot that bill tonight already did that for you!" Natsumi shot back, closing her eyes as the rage within her grew. "And I thought you'd actually be a *man* for once...live up to your fears for her sake! You think it's easy to watch her every night? What if this becomes a permanent thing? She could really get hurt! Get a grip. Better yet, get a life!"

She took several deep breaths and opened her eyes slowly. It felt good to let her frustrations out. She really lacked sleep. Damn, what had she shouted? She could barely remember.

"Nakajima?" She blinked and surveyed the now-empty hallway. She shrugged. He must've dashed off in mid-tirade.

She sighed and checked her watch. She may as well await Miyuki's ritual. In the meantime, there was still the light to change. She walked in the apartment, firmly locking the door. She dropped her package on the kitchen table and moved it aside. She dragged a chair to a point directly below the light.

She was just beginning to screw in the new light bulb when she heard a familiar scrape. Natsumi glanced at Miyuki's figure, shocked because she had lost track of time and Miyuki was walking straight towards her!

"Miyuki! Wait! Stop!"

Miyuki walked straight into the chair, making Natsumi lose her balance. The force of collision seemed to have woken Miyuki up, however, just in time to catch the falling light bulb.

"Oh!" Miyuki suddenly cried out. "Good! You bought a new light bulb! I've been meaning to replace this since last week, but I was so busy...it slipped my mind...it's been bothering me ever since, I even stopped by the hardware store earlier this afternoon, but I couldn't remember what I wanted!" She smiled brightly. "Ah, well, now I can fix this! Excuse me!" So saying, she hopped on the chair and started to screw in the new light.

Natsumi, still sprawled on the floor, stared up at her friend in amazement. `Was that all...?'

The next day...

"So that was it, huh?" Yoriko scrunched up her face. "All that over a dim light bulb?"

"It would seem so..." Natsumi said, sighing. Then, she grinned. "Oh, well, at least it's all done! I can get my regular sleeping habits back!"

"Which is really a shame, considering you've been coming in on time ever since you decided not to sleep at all!" Aoi said. She and Yoriko laughed at Natsumi's disgruntled expression.

"So...uh...Aoi, no hard feelings about last night, huh? How much do we owe you for that bill?" Yoriko added tentatively.

"Hmm? Oh, not a thing! Don't worry about it. I completely understand when my friends are beset with worry over something!" Aoi smiled.

Natsumi and Yoriko turned to each other guiltily.

"Besides, you might want to save the apologies for Nakajima...he must be having a hard time...he looked almost *green* this morning!"

Natsumi stood up resignedly. She should apologize. "Hey, where is Nakajima?"

"Come to think of it, Miyuki's missing too..." Yoriko commented.

"Uh-oh," The trio exclaimed in unison.

* * *

Sure enough, at the rooftop of the Bokuto Police station...

"So... I uh... just wanted to pay you back as soon as possible..." Nakajima stammered as he handed Miyuki the money.

Miyuki accepted it silently, with a slight nod. Then, she turned back to watch the city.

"And... uh... I thought I'd ask you again to dinner... just to make up for things."

Miyuki stiffened at that. Nakajima tried to rack his brain for some statement that would withdraw his invitation, seeing that it was a bad idea, but before he could form a coherent thought, she turned to face him, smiling brightly.

"Ok." So saying, she turned back to the view of the city, humming softly. The wind blew gently, making her ponytail dance. She ran a hand through her hair to keep it from covering her face and laughed exuberantly as the wind blew stronger.

Unable to contain himself, Nakajima leaned down, dropping a kiss on her cheek. They both straightened in surprise.

"I... I... sorry..." He muttered, turning to walk away, but she gently laid a hand on his arm. He turned questioningly. She laid her other hand on his other arm, then reached up to brush her lips softly against his.

She took a step backward, still smiling.

"Kobayakawa . . "

For a moment, they stood there, just staring and smiling at one another. Thankfully, the huge gusts of wind were loud enough to contain the collective sighs of the officers huddled by the stairway.

That night . .

Miyuki burrowed herself contentedly under her blankets and turned over, snuggling against her pillow, whispering,

"Nakajima-kun..."

quite contentedly, before giving in to sleep.

Her sleep was quite peaceful and went through uninterrupted until the light of day.

fin.