The Ravine

[Deego Horutan]

Deego let a noise escape without opening his mouth, sort of like a surprised grunt, followed immediately by a sigh of realizing self-degredation. "Alright, you win." Deego just kept feeling stupider and stupider. Why bother speaking? Well, he would have to speak eventually, so he shouldn't think that way.

[Akemi Yamagata]

Akemi studied Deego for a moment, a frown spreading across her face. She told herself that it wasn't her place to make him feel better, but that didn't always work. Akemi forced back a groan at her own stubbornness and need to play councellor to everyone.

Suddenly remembering something, she pulled a sack of money and threw it over to Tsuki. "I think I owe you two this by the way, the way I heard it.. you had to pay Ryo back his money out of your own pocket... so, shall we be off then?" She asked.

[Tsuki Kyoushu]

Tsuki looked at the sack of money with mild interest and then handed it over to Deego. "You can carry this, it'd be too much trouble to put it in my bag." she said. She then looked up at the sky and let out a groan, it was getting late by now but the moon was going to be bright when it came out, so there wasn't any point in putting off their next task.

"I guess we can go ahead." Tsuki said and began walking in the direction that they'd need to go, she looked over her shoulder slightly and saw Akemi walking behind her, close to Deego. Akemi had always been the softer hearted of the two of them, sometimes Tsuki envied her of that.

[Deego Horutan]

Deego sighed when the money was handed to him. "Yeah, sure, whatever..." Deego threw it through the door of the hideout behind him and heard it hit a bed. Deego didn't want anything weighing him any further down than he felt. Be that as it may, he might as well go too. He had nothing else to do and nothing else to lose, seeing his dignity already out the window. He walked on behind Tsuki, somewhat next to Akemi. He really didn't pay much mind to either of them, for he just walked in a slouch and stared at the ground.

[Akemi Yamagata]

Akemi walked by Deego, and kept looking at him out of he corner of her eye. She let out a quiet sigh, and quickly thought about what she could say.

"You must be something special, you know that? Tsuki must really care for you. If anyone else had even thought about challenging her for any reason.. she would have killed them without hesitation." She said quietly, facing in front of her.

[Deego Horutan]

Deego looked over at Akemi. He let out a huff to blow a strand of hair out of his face. Normally, he would have some dorky, self-absorbed comment to make about that. Unfortunately, he wasn't feeling too hot, so his gust of air was his only reply.

[Akemi Yamagata]

This time Akemi turned to look at Deego, a slight frown spread across her lips, her brown eyes hardened.

"I'm not exactly sure whats going on with you right now, especially since I dont' know you. But I know that you've done a complete 180 from the way that you were the last time we came across each other. I suggest you push past this depression or whatever and get over it before it pushes Tsuki away." She said, her voice quiet but definate.

[Deego Horutan]

Deego tightened his lips together, incredibly aggrivated by what Akemi had just said. He turned and looked at her. If he had the slightest less control, he would have smacked her across the face. Instead, he softened his expression. He gave her a look in her eyes, his eyes reading, "I know. Please, leave it be for now." Deego wanted to say this aloud, but he just couldn't. He hoped Akemi was like Tsuki in the way that she could pick these things up. Deego turned his head, his new expression reading, "I'm sorry." He was no longer staring down, but straight forward, still not in Tsuki's directions. Deego would get better soon, but he just wished he knew if Tsuki could ever forgive him. He knew that he would have a hard time forgiving something like that.

[Akemi Yamagata]

Akemi nodded and looked ahead. Atleast now he didn't seem like he'd be close to tears or however guys explained that feeling. She knew that pushing his buttons would be the best way to get him to be atleast a little more like himself.

"It'll be okay, you'll see." Akemi said and smiled in Deego's direction. That was the end of the discussion. She quickly moved forward some to match pace with Tsuki. She noticed Tsuki glancing over her shoulder at Deego, her eyes lacking that usual blank or annoyed glint. She wondered if Deego saw it.

[Deego Horutan]

Deego was no longer walking in a slump, but still seemed a little down. He looked at Akemi who walked right past him. He looked forward, and something caught his eye. He saw Tsuki looking in his direction. Deego's shoulders jumped and he gasped quietly, looking back, his mouth slightlty open. He then looked to the left, away from Tsuki. He was still very ashamed, not knowing how to apologize, or if he even could. He then looked back into Tsuki's eyes with a soft look of his own. What was that in Tsuki's eyes? It wasn't hate, like Deego expected.