-16-

I open my eyes and lift my head up, groaning. I don't remember anything after eating with Emu and Hiiro in the CR. Of course, Poppy joined us. But what did I do after that?

"Oh, you finally woke up, huh? It seems like you just to sleep all day long."

I look over, eyes going to the doorway. "Ah! Hiiro!"

"Don't worry, nothing happened between us. I'm sure that disappoints someone like you," he tells me, ignoring my shock. 

"It isn't like I would think that about you!" I would never think of sleeping with. Never ever! That is out of the question. "So...what happened? I don't remember anything after eating dinner with you guys."

"You dozed off and I decided that I couldn't leave you with the Intern. He dozed off too." Hiiro looks away. "So, I brought you back here and went out to get you some things. You should shower if you need to and brush your teeth. I prepared you something to wear, but it might not be your taste."

"Oh..." So, he decided the best thing was to take me home with him? Did he think I would be okay waking up in his home?

"I could have left you outside for Parad to have."

That isn't something I want either. If Parad shows up, it probably won't be for friendship. He's really upset right now. I don't blame him either. Being dumped can't feel good at all.

"Please don't ever do that. The last thing I need is him staring down at me with his gashat in his hand," I state. I don't want Parad killing me because I broke his heart. I doubt he's going to trust a woman like me ever again.

"The Intern is probably freaking out right now. I suppose I should drop you off after you wash up and get ready."

"Ah, yeah...he is probably doing that..." I feel bad for Emu. I'm supposed to be staying in the CR or with him. He didn't mean to fall asleep there at the CR, but Hiiro has been overworking him and he seems out of it. 

"You need to keep in mind that you should be thinking about how to stay safe and what to do about this world. You're in danger right now due to hurting that Bugster you shouldn't have gotten involved with in the first place." 

No doubt that Parad is seething with anger right now. He's not the kind of guy who thinks things like that lightly. Kuroto backstabbed him and now I have. Parad may be childish, but there are times when he's really mature and manly.

"I will be sure to stay out of trouble." At least I can try to. 

I miss my fictional Japanese boyfriend already. He was so cool to date. He would teleport over to me randomly and we would do cute things together. It was honestly drama worthy. 

"You better do more for yourself now that you're supposed to be trying to help this world. I suppose that someone was resisting the way of things here." He is guessing that already? What makes him think that?

"You think someone doesn't want to be in this world any longer?"

"That or they want us to be the main world. If one could switch places with your world, then you would be the fictional ones."

Wow, someone is just plain evil. "I see," I reply.

"I'll be waiting for you in the living room. Once you're ready to go, I'll take you to the CR and you can reunite with your friend, the Intern." 

Why does he have to always call him that? He can just call him Emu more often. It isn't like his name is hard to say or anything. It is a cute name.

"Alright." I bet he got me something Saki would like. 

~.~

"Hey, where were you with her last night?" Emu asks as Hiiro moves around him, heading over to where he usually goes in the CR. I bet he's also going to grab a piece of cake and start eating it casually.

"Out of the way, Intern," Hiiro tells him, ignoring the question.

"Hiiro!" Emu grabs his arm and pulls him back, staring down Hiiro. Oh, he's mad? Why would he be mad though? Did I do something to make him mad and he's blaming Hiiro for it?

"Let me go, Intern. You have no right to be grabbing me like this." Hiiro is probably mad now.

Emu releases his arm and turns to me. "Did he do anything to you last night?" he asks, voice full of concern. He thinks Hiiro tried to do something to me? Does he think Hiiro was working me like a maid around his house or something?

"Fighting isn't appropriate for Doctors like you," a harsh voice says and I turn, eyes going to the wicked man, Taiga. What's he doing here?

"Taiga, what brings you and Jennie here?" Hiiro asks as my eyes go to my best friend. Why is she wearing spare Taiga clothes? Did he seriously just hand her whatever has lying around his place?

"Because something happened to Jennie the other day." Taiga turns to Jennie. "Kuroto somehow cornered her when I was out with her and talked to her. What's odd is that he returned her without touching a hair on her head."

I gasp. She got grabbed by Kuroto the other day and talked to about something too? I know he had to reach out to her as well.

"Elkie..." Jennie looks into my eyes, looking sad. She is so afraid right now and I know it. She doesn't even have to tell me that she is.

My guess is that he kind of told her the same thing he told me. However, he probably tossed in "Don't get too comfortable with Taiga" kind of thing to bother her some more. Goodness! He's being too annoying now.

"I wish I could help you out with that one, Quack Doctor," Hiiro says, sounding cold. He still dislikes Taiga greatly. "Did Jennie say what happened during their meeting?" Is he going to be pretend that I wasn't snatched up by Kuroto?

"Hiiro, be nice," Emu states. He's so good to everyone. Good boy, Emu!

"She said he threatened her life and that is it. He allowed her to get away so he could chase her down some other time to play," Taiga tells Hiiro. I doubt that is what happened and I'm so glad that Jennie is lying. She's a better liar than me. 

"He is becoming unpredictable, Taiga. We all know that is what is going on with him. He's been acting crazier and crazier as time goes on." Hiiro is going to pretend that nothing happened between me and Kuroto in order to keep this world's ending a secret. "Kuroto isn't stable at this current time."

Taiga looks at me and steps forward, reaching out to my light purple shirt. He grabs it and pulls me closer to him, glaring at me. What is going to happen now? What did I do wrong?

"You better talk, faker," Taiga orders. What is going on with him? Does he do this to Jennie or is it only me who gets this to happen to them?

I gasp, placing my hands on his. "Let me go!"

"Taiga, stop!" Jennie exclaims, moving towards him and placing her hands on his arm. "Please, just let her go!"

Taiga stumbles back, releasing me from his grasp. I look to the side as Hiiro puts down his hand, which is balled up in a fist. That happened so fast! I didn't see it happen properly! Did he just punch Taiga?

"I think you should go, Taiga," Hiiro states, voice full of venom. "You have already brought enough terror into the lives of others." Ouch! Now that is just plain cold, Hiiro!

Taiga did get someone killed when he started being a Kamen Rider. Graphite took over Saki in this world and became real. Like, a permanent fixture in this world. I doubt he's actually even dead.

"I see how it is, Hiiro. Fine, I'll go." Taiga adjusts himself as I look back at him and turns to Jennie. "We're going to go now. Look at your friend and wish you could stay before you go."

Jennie looks at me and shakes her head. "I'm sorry," she mouths, making sure not to talk next to him. I feel so bad for her, but I can't help her. Taiga made it clear that I get to say with the CR and she gets to stay with him.

He turns and moves back up where he came from, Jennie following him slowly. I feel so bad for her still. I would hate to be stuck with someone as nasty as Taiga. He's personality is hardly even there. He's like Hiiro but on some sort of anti-universe drug.

"Are you alright, Elkie?" Emu asks me and I turn to him, looking him in his pretty eyes. "Did that scare you?"

I nod a little. "Yeah...that sort of did." 

Taiga is a bit unpredictable due to his attitude. He is very upset because he lost it all when Saki died. Not just that, Hiiro is constantly blaming him for everything in the world. One day, maybe they will get pass this.

"I wonder what is up with him?" Emu shakes his head. "Whatever! Let's forget about him for now. I'm more concerned about what is going on with you and how you are."

"Guess who is here?" Poppy asks, sounding happy. I turn to her as she holds up a piece of cake. "Uh...why do you all look like something bad just happened?" Her smile falls.

"Taiga just paid us a visit," Hiiro states. "He got kind of violent with Elk."

"Elkie, let's go and get you something to drink," Emu suggests. "Uh...you two can keep an eye on the phone. You know, in case it rings." Emu is going to take care of me now? Good! I have had enough of Hiiro taking care of me!

"Alright." I turn to Emu as he touches my arm gently, giving me goosebumps. What is this feeling when I'm with Emu? Is this...super friendship? Does super friendship even exist? Or did I just come up with that?

"Whatever, Intern," Hiiro says, not caring about what Emu wants to do with me. "Just make sure no Bugster touches her." He really dislikes Parad, huh?

"No one is going to touch her but us." Aw, he's so sweet! He knows that I'm safe down here with all of them.

I really need a cup of tea though. I feel on edge right now thanks to Taiga. He's really a scary dude.