(LostInYou and Ghastly) Yanderes Being Yanderes

[GhastlySquash]

"Wow..." Suzu was surprised to see how many hats there were. "You think a trilby or a newsboy cap would suit me well, huh?"


At the edge of the store, there was a wide selection of newsboy caps, berets, and a few extras that Suzu couldn't really name. All of them looked quite excellent to be fair. Grabbing a couple, she began to try each one out.


"How does this cyan one look?"


"Hmm, perhaps grey or brown?"


"Oh oh! Maybe this pink one!"


"Or...maybe this purple?"


"Did newspaper reporters really wear polka dot caps, Carter?"


She saw a line of fedoras on the other end. "Oh let's look at those! Come on!" She dragged Carter to the fedora stand and began trying on various styles for both her and Carter. After all, she knew they were his favorite. Carter looked like he could be quite the hardboiled detective. Give him a fedora, a classy trenchcoat, and a fake cigarette and he'd be a natural. As for Suzu, she'd be happy just being a Short-Round to his Indianna Jones.

 

[singularsins]

Upon catching sight that he was being escorted to the fedora stand, he immediately brightened. "Paper boys are commonly seen in newsboy hats. I've seen them with polka dots on their hats before. Back at home, at least." He smiled, referring to his old home in America. He slowly grabbed a dark gray fedora before lightly placing it on her head and shifting one of the mirrors on top of a stand so it faced her. "Look, that one seems to suit you well. What do you think?"


With that, he grabbed a light blue fedora and placed it atop his own head after removing the black one he currently wore. The hat matched his eyes and shirt, thus he was satisfied when he managed to find a mirror to glance into. He smiled, relieved the accessory went well. Not all fedoras suited him, but that was just because he had picky tastes.


He was back to staring at the hats on display, glancing through all the colors in order to determine what he should choose for Suzu. "That gray one seems to compliment you, but so would this black one. And cyan would look nice...."


He paused, frowning slightly as he thought. "Even violet could work, but if you planned to wear this specific hat a lot, it might be easier to go with a color like black because it works better with other colors."


He tilted his head, uncertain.


"Do you think you'd like a fedora instead of a trilby or newsboy? They'd all three go well with your style, but you already know which one I would prefer....so I'm kinda biased." He chuckled softly and removed the hat he wore briefly so he could check the price tag. Not that it really mattered. He would be buying it anyways.


He watched her momentarily, curious as to what she thought. Was his obsession childish? Or could she understand his love for hats like he tried to fathom her adoration for photography? He thought of how she'd look like a news reporter if she had a hat and her camera, going around snapping photos of everything beautiful she ever saw.

 

[GhastlySquash]

"I think a fedora would do nicely." Suzu smiled, taking the black one and fitting it over her head. "What do you think? Do I look like a real reporter, ready to catch the scoop?"


It suddenly occurred to her that the police would be at school. Probably just doing some routine investigations and whatnot. Suzu should get rid of the phone, after all, she didn't want to be seen with that. Still, that could wait. Carter was here, and for the first time, it was just Carter. No other pesky friends to get in her way.


She grabbed her phone and snapped a picture of Carter with his hat. "You look like a real reporter, Carter. Or a musician. Or anything really."


Suzu grinned. "You know, I think you could do anything if you put your mind to it." She paused, looking at the store across. "Although...ummm...you wouldn't mind going dress shopping with me. I know it isn't hats but it's well...ummm...if you don't mind?"

 

[singularsins]

"Sure, I don't mind. Let me just go pay for this, okie?" He then rushed over to pay for the hat before sticking it back on his head. Then he returned to her side, smiling. "Ready to go? I may look to see if I can find something too. Not anything special, I promise. Just if I happen to stumble upon something. My priority is making sure you find something you want." Despite the nonchalant ring to his tone, he was actually hoping he could find something appropriate for the funeral he knew he'd be attending. The funeral would have to be soon and he had nothing to wear. He couldn't show up to pay his respects in white. It didn't fit the occasion.


"Do you want to be a news reporter in the future?" He asked as he headed to the exit of the store. Slowly, he paused and waited to make sure she was close by. "Any particular reason you need a dress? I know that dance is coming up soon. Trying to get a guy's perspective so you can impress your date?" He didn't think she had a date (at least she hadn't said she did), but he was using it as a joke anyhow. He grinned widely with a soft chuckle escaping his lips before he walked over to the dress store. He felt pretty confident until he stepped inside and realized it was really a store directed more towards girls. Not that his expression showed he cared, but he could feel the crippling sense that he didn't belong. What with the girls looking at him and whispering. Despite that, he tried to brush off the nerves as he gestured to dresses for Suzu.

 

[GhastlySquash]

After they paid, Suzu was also wondering what she'd wear to the funeral. To be honest, she figured she'd just be invited to a school service. She was never really close to Yuki, and to be honest, her death met little to her. Despite what some criminal experts might say, Suzu didn't feel the need to gloat about her murder. She had done what was necessary. It was best to let the family grieve in peace if they must. Suzu always found it odd that people would go to funerals when they barely knew the person. How they'd try to throw their own two cents in or what memories they have as if it mattered or as if people cared. Suzu would only have three funerals she'd ever speak for. Her two friends and Carter. Everyone else was just not a person she cared for.


"I'm not sure, I think more like those documentary film makers." Suzu admitted sheepishly. "I like watching nature. In nature, nobody pretends. Everything just is, you know?"


She didn't mean it, but Suzu's eyes widened at the suggestion of a date. "Oh no Carter! I mean...not yet...but like...you know...I know the dance is in a bit and...ummm..."


The fact that the store was directed towards girls must have made it hard for Carter to fit in. Especially since he'd gone ahead and entered by himself. Suzu entered from behind, trying hard not to roll her eyes at his attempts to brush off the other women in the shop. Grabbing his arm, she nuzzled him closely. "Just for now, pretend you're my boyfriend and they'll leave you be."


She smiled, looking at each of the suggestions. "I'm not really sure yet which one I like...got any suggestions?" However, her eyes were drawn to a few on the other side. These ones came with matching opera gloves, something that reminded Suzu of those hardboiled detective noires her parents use to watch at home. The ones that her mother never got enough of and the ones she was sure where Carter had found his fedora addiction.

 

[singularsins]

Carter was glancing around the store carefully when Suzu had called for his attention with her own input into the conversation they'd been carrying on. Not that he wasn't invested in Suzu and her words, he just had his mind on a thousand different things at once. The shop was mainly for girls, so he couldn't find much that a man could wear. Especially to the occasion he needed it for. Their selection didn't quite suit his tastes. He firmly decided he would go shopping for the clothes on his own accord, or have his mother pick him out something to wear. He never really had the sense to dress for solemn occasions like funerals. Not that his presence at funerals made much of a difference. He was really quiet at such gatherings. It was to be unexpected, of course, but he never talked about how he felt during funerals. At least, only a few people knew about such things. And only a few people on the world would ever know.


"Documentaries are interesting. At least, the ones that I've seen are. And documentaries allow for a wide range of possibilities. You could make something about anything. It doesn't really matter, it just has to be something you're passionate about." He smiled slightly, coming back from his thoughts. He glanced around, catching her gaze as it trailed off to the dresses she seemed to have her eyes set on.


"I'm not really a wiz when it comes to clothing, but why don't we try those over there?" He gestured to the section where the dresses hung. "They seem like they'd suit you." Though, he wasn't actually sure of that. He was just thinking of her and her style, really. Not that he would've ever imagined she would eye such a dress so. In fact, he didn't take her for someone that liked that particular style of clothing. It all seemed so detective-esque, with the clothes and the coloring and the mystery to it all. While he was skeptical, he believed she could look beautiful in anything.


He didn't feel as uncomfortable anymore. It didn't take long, he just had to adjust to being in a setting that wasn't necessarily his environment. He reassured her with a shake of his head as he looked trough the dresses passively. "You don't have to pretend to be my significant other. I should be able to admit I proudly walked into a dress store for a friend. That makes me sound better than a boyfriend that got drug here by his girlfriend." He admitted, shrugging slightly. If the girls wanted to look, nothing he could do would prevent them from doing so. He wasn't assertive in such areas. Instead, he'd let them get by with only a reminder to himself to be less nervous next time.


He glanced through another rack full of dresses, but in all honesty, he didn't know what the big deal was. Perhaps it was because dresses all seemed so complicated to him.

 

[GhastlySquash]

"Hmmm, do you think I should keep it black and mysterious or..." She moved to the other corner. "Something blue? Red? Maybe white?" She slipped one of the white gloves on, smiling. "I don't know, I use to watch a lot of old noir films with my family."


Hearing Carter's comment, she felt a little deflated at the idea. Of course, he wouldn't see her as a girlfriend. Only a best friend. Even now, she eyed the other girls with hostility, keeping a claim over her love just so they'd stop looking him over. He was hers and hers alone. Yuki had tried to steal him before and look at where she is now?


Chuckling at Carter's struggle with the dresses, she held two in front of him. They were both matching, only that one was black and the other was white with a bow in the back. Both were also strapless.


"What do you think?"

 

[singularsins]

Carter paused in his search to look at the two selections she'd made. He wasn't quite sure which to say was better. To him, they were just two dresses that were on two different sides of the color spectrum. Oh, and one of them had a bow. But, honestly, he couldn't have told you anything else about them that screamed,'Suzu!' without having to ask for expert help. He smiled sheepishly, perhaps hoping his incompetence on the matter wasn't showing on his face.


"Which one? Uh.....why not....the white one? The bow seems nice. So it might be the better of the two options." Though he paused, suddenly second guessing himself. "Why.....don't you try them both on? So you can see for yourself."

 

[GhastlySquash]

It took a lot of strength not to grin at his blushing cheeks and nervous smile.


"Sorry, Carter, but I'm assuming this is your first time?" Suzu asked politely, trying hard not to laugh. "Don't worry, I think the white one fits me better anyhow. After all, the first choice is usually the strongest, right?"


With that in mind, Suzu vanished into the dressing room, coming out with the dress, bow, and gloves. To be honest, she looked like a lost fairytale princess. "This doesn't look like the Prince's castle!" She exclaimed.


She vanished back into the dressing room, returning in the black gown that enhanced her curves, and with the tiny black veil over her body, made her look all the more like a mysterious noire femme fatale with just a hint of mystery. Give her a cigarette and she could be dropped into any old movie.


"So what do you think, detective, you think I'll knock them dead at the karaoke party tonight?" The last remark didn't seem to befit the whole noire attitude, and with that one last jab Suzu had to laugh at her own joke.

 

[singularsins]

Carter managed to retain his smile as she modeled both dresses individually. She didn't look as comfortable in the white one, though it clearly complimented her frame in a subtle, yet graceful way. He had to admit she looked beautiful in the fragile, delicate style of a princess. Although, the black gown enhanced her appearance. It brought her more to life, so to speak, by portraying features that could be overlooked under other circumstances. She looked like she was comfortable, but classy. Like she was charming, but coy as well. While he hated to choose due to his own habit of indecisiveness, he wanted to say the black dress was the one for her. Though, he adored the white gown, he wouldn't pressure her into buying one she didn't look one hundred percent herself in.


"You're beautiful in both gowns, Suzu, but you seem more....yourself in the black one. The choice is yours. Which do you like the best? Princess or crime stopper? Both would surely have interesting stories to tell." He offered her a grin, reflecting his growing relief with the situation. He was becoming, thankfully, calmer.


As a detective she'd be sly and cunning, always a step ahead. Well, he imaged it as such. And as a princess she'd be independent and sure. She wouldn't need that prince to help her be found. She'd do it all on her own. That was just how she was though, he'd always thought. She seemed so dependable and strong, as though she could stand alone without the worry of what might come her way. He wished he was like that. The idea of loneliness frightened him.


"What does Suzu want? Really? Does she want to live the ultimate fairytale, with the happily ever after?" He paused, his grin morphing into a playful smirk. "Or does she want the life of adventure, crime, danger? The exciting life of uncertainty?"


He leaned against a wall, arms crossed, relaxed. The girls wouldn't trouble him with their looks any longer. His attention was firmly planted on his fun outing with Suzu. He always imagined hanging out with a girl for an extended period of time alone to be awkward or weird, but all he could say was that he felt relieved to have another friend to depend on to get him through times like this.

 

[GhastlySquash]

Suzu could see that Carter was a bit indecisive about it all. However, did she want life as a fairytale? Carter as her Prince Charming? Only she knew so very well that this wasn't a world where happily ever after existed because you asked it too. It was a world where what people really wanted was the bad and the good mixed all in one. The danger...that was the kind of excitement she saw in Carter.


Did she want a life of adventure, crime, and danger? Heck, she already had one. She'd done what few in the world would have ever done. She committed murder for the sake of her love. Was that really something they added in fairytales?


"Alright then, detective, black it is." She smiled triumphantly.

 

[singularsins]

"Detective? Does that mean you and I are partners?" He allowed his grin to grow, looking at her calmly. After all, the black one offered a sleek, mysterious air. What better dress for a detective?


"I'm really glad you went with that choice. I mean, either went well...but you seem really happy in that one." He commented quietly before crossing his arms over his chest.


"Where would you like to head off to next?" He asked, tilting his head some as he glanced around the store, perhaps in hope that he would catch something interesting. He knew they probably wouldn't, after all this was a girl's store, but maybe it would inspire him on gifts for his mother or something. Slowly his gaze turned back to Suzu, offering her a small smile.

 

[GhastlySquash]

"Elementary, my dear Watson!" Suzu tried her best impression of a British noble, pumping her chest. "And with me and you on the case, there's nothing we can't do!"


Hearing Carter's comment cause Suzu to turn a light pink. "Oh...well...guess it just felt better y'know?" She treasured the warm surge that coarsed through her, the dress acting as some sort of insulator that she refused to take off since it kept that feeling inside and alive.


It was that effect from Carter, the way he could bring something out of her that no one could before. Well, there was a time she had something similar. A while back, when she was young, her parents had given her a dog. It was strange, as she never felt more happy than with the dog.


She still remembered the day she found him, bruised and nearly dead. A fight with a neighbors dog that left her own barely alive. Even though they tried to save it, eventually her parents came home by themselves. That was how she discovered it.


Before, she'd found mild amusement in hurting things, but the feeling of emptiness, that return made her want something else. She didn't know how she did it, but eventually the neighbor's dog was found hanging from a cloth line and the Suzu had...for just the briefest moments, felt a moment of joy.


Carter reminded her of that first companion. So innocent and so free and so full of energy. It drew her to him like a kid to a candy store.


"Well...Halloween is coming up soon, did you pick out your costume yet?" Suzu grinned broadly.

 

[singularsins]

Carter paused a moment in thought, tapping his chin with his index finger unsurely. "Oh no, I haven't. Dressing up gets harder and harder each year because I'm never sure what to be." He chuckled to himself before crossing his arms over his chest, chewing on the inside of his cheek. "Have you chosen anything yet? If not, I do know of a nice Halloween store that's open in the mall for the season. We can go there together. Maybe we'll even get matching outfits."


He winked playfully, knowing that he'd matched other friends before. He had the tendency to dress up with a group and going out with them to hang out on the night of Halloween. It was always loads of fun.


"We might be able to invite our individual friends to join us too. It could be cool for us to all match. Do you think so?" He asked, tilting his head.


Carter wasn't sure if Suzu would be up for that, but he could hope. There were lots that had happened in the last couple of days, but it would be nice for the group of friends to get together. He thought that was the most important thing regarding getting over a loss: being together. His friends supported him, just as he supported them. They could carry on together. They could help carry each other.

 

[GhastlySquash]

"Well I already know Saki and Shino want to dress up like sushi again." Suzu rolled her eyes. "So if you can get me out of that, I like totally owe you a big favor!"


She smiled, knowing that Carter probably wanted to share his joy with everyone else. It was somewhat disappointing to her, knowing that he could be so easily persuaded to help those that didn't deserve it. People who took advantage of him. People like his friends.


Suzu had seen what they were like, what they did when he wasn't looking. It made her sick, and it made her angry. She wanted to hurt them. How could anyone be that way with her love? She'd never let anyone hurt Carter. She'd be his knight in shining armor if she had to.


And she'd wet her blade with blood in his name.


"I like the idea of a costume shop! Maybe you can help me get an idea!"

 

[singularsins]

"Haha. But you'd look so cute as sushi." Carter snickered slightly, playfully nudging her with his arm before strolling towards the exit of the shop. "Although, I'd be willing to help you get out of it. Just this once."


The shop was down a little ways. For a massive mall like this one, it wasn't that long of a walk, but it could get pretty hectic with all the people rushing about trying to shop or catch up with their own companions. "If you think we'll lose one another, you can grab my hand or arm. I don't want to suddenly find you're gone."


Halloween wasn't his favorite holiday. It wasn't hard for him to admit that, but it was one he could enjoy with not only his family but his friends. Most holidays he just spent with his family. They were occasions when he went to see a lot of family he didn't during the year. Or they were times when he was too busy to spend a moment with his friends. Halloween was different. His parents stayed home and passed out candy while he ventured out with the people he called friends and got candy from others. It was a night of fun and laughter and memory making. It was a night he wouldn't trade for anything.


He walked along. "Do you want to be a princess? A knight? A superhero? What strikes your interest?"

 

[GhastlySquash]

"Hmmm, that's hard, I don't really know that many things I'd want to be?" Suzu chuckled. "Hmmm, what do you think I'd be good as?"


In truth, Suzu felt that Halloween was one of the few times where being herself felt natural rather than creepy. The mask that she put on everyday to hide her own lack of empathy. In that light, Halloween was her time to either be herself or to be something else. Either way, it was a nice change of pace and something she took pleasure in.


As they reached the costume shop, it was clear that there was a plethora of things to look at. Costumes, masks of all kinds, even some dresses and full-body suits.


"Wow...this shop has everything."

 

[singularsins]

"You're right." Carter breathed out, looking at the the multitude of costumes hanging all around on the various aisles. "Hm....I think you'd be good in anything, to be honest. What interests you?" He asked, walking along. He glanced through various things, though most of them didn't feel as though they'd suit her correctly.


He frowned in thought, but finally pulled out a detective costume. "What about this?" He asked, skimming through another rack. "Or this?" He held out a witch costume. "Mystery or magic, eh?"


He grinned slightly to himself, finding that all the options were a little overwhelming. He wanted Suzu to be happy, but he wasn't always the best at making decisions. After all, he wasn't even sure what he wanted to be for Halloween, though he was sure he wanted to match his friends. He held out the two costumes still, swinging them back and forth some expectantly.

 

[GhastlySquash]

"Hmmm..." Suzu began to look over the racks, vanishing on the other end. She began to look through until she found a set of hooded robes and a ghostly, terrifying hockey mask.


Slipping it on, she suddenly felt herself more...energized. Stronger, as silly as it sounded. Grabbing her phone, she began to look for Carter. Assuming he was still at the same isle, looking through clothes, she snuck behind him.


Then, mustering up the croakiest, scariest voice she could imagine, asked. "What's your favorite scary movie?"

 

[singularsins]

Carter, still standing there fiddling through clothing, jumped at the sound of the voice that mimicked that of a horror movie character. He dropped the clothes he held in one hand, turning around to see the frightening figure. He pulled the mask up some, noting who it was before letting it slid back down into place. He bent down to pick up the items he'd dropped, hanging them back.


"Haha. I guess that just goes to show how easily frightened I am." Carter said, sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck with a smile. Halloween was a fun holiday for him, but it was also a terrifying one. He didn't like what could be lurking in the shadows. Suzu, however, seemed to welcome the night of fright. "That costume suits you...You could get it."

 

[GhastlySquash]

Suzu slid the mask up. "You think? Hmmm, it was pretty cheap but..."


She laughed a little before noticing how Carter seemed to react. He looked, well...a little scared. Had she gone too far? She didn't mean to scare Carter th


Perhaps in another world, where people enjoyed the fright of halloween, she'd suit in. But here, with Carter, she couldn't risk scaring him off. If he saw that she was perhaps, in some ways, worse than the monsters they made on TV.


"You know what? I don't really think it suits me. Being all scary, I'd probably give Shino and Yuki a heart attack. And besides..."


She pulled out the witch costume. If only life was so simple as magic. If only time had allowed for a world of dreams and magic and fantasy. If only, in a way, she could be the lost princess and Carter her knight in shining armor.


"Hmmm, actually, I think I know just the set." She dragged Carter over to another isle, where one could see a pink princess costume but on the other end was a classic red plumber with a broad Italian mustache. "You did say we should try something matching..."

 

[singularsins]

Carter allowed her to escort him away from the isle, towards another section filled with matching costumes. Carter immediately designated this The Couples Section before realizing what this might imply about Suzu and him. Feeling his cheeks heat up, he quickly turned his back to glance at some random accessories while he spoke. "I suppose I did say that, didn't I? What kind of matching did you have in mind?"

He slowly turned back to face her, the same usual smile he always adorned lining his lips. His cheeks still looked slightly tinted red, but he was obviously less flustered. He then allowed his eyes to scan over the options before him, curiously wondering what would suit the two of them best. He tried to find something that would suit both of their styles, all the while trying to calm himself. He hoped Suzu wasn't giving up a costume she really wanted in exchange for this. He supposed that, in the end, he just didn't want to come off as boring to her. He was fairly predictable, and he didn't live a life of danger or recklessness. How long would she extend this friendship before she realized he was just a plain, simple man?

Plain, simple men are not written about. They are not the stars in blockbuster movies and visually stunning video games. They are not the ones that get the fame and the attention. And they certainly do not get the friends.

Hanging out with people always ended in him thinking about how someone better would come along, but he tried to remain optimistic. Suzu wasn't the kind of person to do that. That's what he told himself.

"I'm actually surprised you wanted to match at all with me..." He smiled, as if humbled. "This Halloween might be the best yet..."

He then began to hold up a variety of matching costumes from popular media, perhaps wondering if he could pair a fedora with any of the outfits.

 

[GhastlySquash]

Suzu noticed his momentary blush. She had been a little forward dragging him to the couples section. Perhaps he was embarassed that she was trying to match with him.

And yet, at the same time, she didn't feel guilty for doing it. She'd done so much for Carter that it almost felt like she deserved it. The murder of Yuki had barely registered as a wrong act, but it did register as a big risk she'd taken for Carter. If Yuki exposed her, that could have ended their relationship and worse.

In a way, she found Carter to be particularly refreshing. He was interesting, quiet, and yet strangely addictive. Hanging out with him was like a drug. His voice, his sincerity. He was everything she wasn't. Carter wasn't complex to understand, but that's what attracted her to him. He was a Prince Charming, a perfect gentleman with perfect morals. He fought for the weak, wherever they might be and even when he tried to lie, she could see right through it.

He was an angel...but this world was built for demons. And Suzu was the only demon that could protect Carter from corruption. Even if that meant she would have to further corrupt herself.

Suzu figured he'd want something with a fedora, so she began to look specifically for costumes that could fit the trope. Most of what came to mind were mafia-style outfits from old black and white noir films but she was open for suggestions.


(Do you have any particular costume in mind?)

singularsins

 

[singularsins]

Carter didn't just settle for the mafia costumes until he was sure he couldn't find anything better. He pulled out a variety of different costumes. Batman and Catwoman, Superman and Wonder Woman. A Princess and her Knight. A cop and a criminal. Two outfits that looked like they were trying to mimic the eighties. One by one he scanned through costumes designed for couples. All of which he could not simply put a fedora on. And - more importantly - many of the girl's costumes were a bit too provocative. Wasn't October a cold month anyways? Why give girls so many options that require them to freeze to death in the process of dressing up? One could tell his distaste at many of the costumes, since he would wrinkle his nose or shake his head while looking through him.

And, thus, he settled. He moved back towards the mafia section and glanced through his options. He found a simple costume for him to wear - and it even came with a hat of its own! He knew he probably would switch it out for one of his fedoras, but at least he could keep it if he ever needed it for something. He held up the costume he selected to Suzu, beaming with pride as if he'd just discovered gold.

"What do ya think? Sharp, right? I only hope I can pull it off. Not much of a gangster." He chuckled to himself before gesturing towards all the options she could choose from. Some were sleek and sophisticated. Others flashy and forward. Some were even a bit scandalous in appearance, but he knew he was a bit old fashioned.

"They have so many unique options for girls...All the men's options are pretty much the same suit with different colors." He then began to start holding out different costumes. It wasn't meant to influence her decision. Rather, he just wanted to feel useful to her.

The truth was, he was always slightly paranoid when he was with Suzu. He could easily decipher what Hiro and Kai were thinking. He picked up on their mannerisms and their behavioral patterns after all this time. He kinda understood them, he thought. But he never understood Suzu. Not exactly, at least. He couldn't tell what she was thinking or how she really felt. So he always relied on what she told him. It didn't make him feel as though he couldn't trust her, of course, but it did make him try harder to be a good friend. He thought if he was a better friend, he might be able to understand her better, too.

 

[GhastlySquash]

"Well then..." Suzu smiled, "What do you think I should wear with you?"

There were plenty of options, but for once, she was at a loss. Carter always seemed so sure around his friends and even complete strangers. But with her, there was some distance. It was as if she was covered under a blanket and Carter was trying to find the girl under the sheets.

In some aspects, it saddened her to think that while it was easy to understand Carter, he seemed to always have trouble understanding her. Not like that Hikari girl though. Suzu's thoughts drifted off to the past. To her loving dog.

The one thing other than Carter she'd fight for. The one thing that made her feel, if for a bit, happiness that couldn't be described. Bliss like this wasn't to be taken lightly. Bliss was something Suzu saw that was rare and precious.

More precious than wealth or friends or respect. It was more important than any legacy. It was pure completion. It was beyond anything this world offered.

Carter was more precious to her than he could ever imagine.

That's why Yuki had to die. She would have tore his heart, exposed Suzu as a demon and thus shattered Carter's perfect world of heavenly beings.