You Never Walk Alone

A/N:

I would be using YUI (FL's Japanese and real name) whenever it's her POV, instead of JACE (FL's English name). They're the SAME PERSON, so don't get confused. ^^,

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Tokyo

A guy was harshly slammed on the wall. Yuu Hidaka was furious when he found out his daughter managed to ran away. And the guards or even the f*cking cameras didn't see her walked out of the building.

"I only instructed you one thing," he coldly said as he glared one by one at the men in front of him. "And yet you failed it. How the hell did she get out?!!" His voice echoed in the room as he yelled.

"We—we actually don't know, sir," one of the guards managed to croaked out and he ended up on the floor, twisting and groaning in pain.

"Useless scums!" Yuu landed his fist on the other guard's face. His own face was red from rage.

"Find her!!!" he yelled. "Find her and bring her back no matter what it takes!"

The men scurried outside after bowing at him.

Yuu took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He wouldn't let her get away that easily. She belonged here. And no one could take her away from him

~~•~~•

Yui never thought she would be able to get in high school. And she was glad she made the right decision.

"We've got AP English and Homeroom together," Elli excitedly said as they looked in her schedule. "Oh, and you've got gym class and Chemistry with Tolky."

She just nodded. At least she's got four periods with the people she knew. It wouldn't be that awkward.

Elli tugged her towards their homeroom class. "So, what do you think of Tolky?"

Yui ignored her grinning face. "He's a nice guy," she answered nonchalantly.

And she found him attractive too. Though romance or boys were not part of her plans, she couldn't help but watch Tolkien secretly whenever he was around.

His green eyes mesmerized her. His attitude and sense of humor amused her. And she never felt like that before.

Normally, nothing could distract her. But since she met Tolkien and got to know him gradually, she found him interesting.

"And?" Elli prodded her to add more.

"That's it." She noticed the curious looks the other students were shooting her way. She was used to that so she just ignored them.

They went inside their classroom and Elli pulled her towards the back of the class and sat—she assumed—on her seat. She took the seat behind her and looked outside the window.

"Seriously, Jace," Elli continued, facing her. She admired her will to persuade her to talk about Tolkien. She was probably up to something. "What do you think of him besides being a nice guy?"

She just shrugged and threw Elli a question instead. "How's aunt Becca?"

That shut Elli up. And Yui felt a bit guilty for bursting her bubble. But it was necessary. And she had to look for her own place ASAP.

Tolkien's mom was great and they talked a lot last night. They actually got closer in just a short period of time. And she didn't want to bother them that long.

"Uh," Elli hesitated. "Mom's fine."

"Judging by the concealed bags under your eyes, the talk didn't go well." Yui looked her straight in the eyes but Elli glanced away. "It's okay, Elli. I told you I've expected that."

"She was being unreasonable," Elli muttered and absentmindedly drummed her fingers on her desk. "I'm sorry for her attitude."

Yui shook her head and looked at the window again. "I understand your mom, Elli."

Elli was about to refute her but the teacher came in and she gave her a we-will-talk-later look before facing front again.

Classes went by uneventful and awfully boring Yui realized it was already lunch. Some of the teachers made her stand up in front and introduced herself to everyone which was the part she hated the most. She never intended to befriend everyone in her class, or anyone at all. It was best to just hang around with the twins and Tolkien.

She stepped into the cafeteria and looked for the twins. She saw them in the center tables as Elli looked her way and waved at her with a huge grin on her face.

Yui waved back at her and jerked her thumb over the line of students grabbing their food. She went and grabbed a tray and chose something she could eat. And looked edible. American food were way different from Japanese food.

She decided the safest one. A muffin and a juice box. She went straight at the twins' table after getting her food. There were three more people with them. Tolkien was nowhere in sight.

Elli smiled at her and pulled her to sit beside her. "Guys, this is my cousin from Japan, Jace Connors. Jace, these are our friends Lexi, Kip and Jake."

The three greeted her enthusiastically. She gave them a curt nod and started to eat.

"Your western looks are more prominent," Lexi said while staring at her. "The only thing that would give away your Japanese side was your skin and your eyes. And you have no f*cking pores! That was so unfair!"

Yui almost choked on her muffin. She looked at the girl opposite her and gave her a weird look. Lexi was pretty. Though she thought her make up was a little too dark for her. She had strawberry-blonde hair that fell past her shoulders, her round blue eyes were coated in heavy mascara and black eyeliner. She was also wearing a black tight tank top and black leather mini skirt and a pair of black boots.

"Like what you see?" Lexi grinned at her when she caught her looking.

"Sorry, not my type," Yui answered with a smirk. Elli and the two guys snickered as Aeron choked on his soda.

Lexi scowled and elbowed the one next to her. Yui didn't bother remembering everyone else's names. She wasn't planning on acquainting herself with them more anyway.

"You just have to ask, Lex," Elli said, still snickering.

"I was just curious," Lexi rolled her eyes and glanced at Yui. "So, how do you find our school?"

She shrugged and finished her muffin. "Still pondering about it. But it's not that bad."

"She's too honest to be your cousin, E," the blonde guy opposite Elli said.

"Shut up," Elli rolled her eyes at the guy. "I'm f*cking honest when I told you that you need to lift weights. You didn't listen to me and the next thing you knew, your ex-girlfriend was dating her gym buddy."

Blonde dude grimaced and rubbed the back of his neck. "Do you really have to bring that up?"

Yui tuned them out and turned to Aeron who was quiet since she sat with them. "Hey," she nudged him with her foot under the table. He looked up at her obviously startled. "Can we talk?"

Aeron looked at Elli first before nodding. He stood up and she followed him out of the cafeteria. They stepped out on the school's yard and settled in an empty table under a big tree.

"Your talk with Aunt Becca didn't end up well," Yui stated. It would be better not to beat around the bush.

Aeron sighed and nodded. "I'm sorry, Jace."

They stayed quiet for a moment. Yui really expected it. Her own mother left her and her father as soon as she was born. She wouldn't blame her for that. And she wouldn't blame Aunt Becca for hating her too.

"I shouldn't have bothered you guys," she quietly said. "You wouldn't had a fight with your mom if it wasn't for me."

Aeron grimaced and tugged at his hair. "Don't say that. Elli and I wanted to help you. Don't worry about Mom, she would probably come around."

"It's okay. You've done enough. You and Elli both, actually." She sighed and tapped her foot on the ground. "Your Mom's just worried for you two. She doesn't want you to associate with me because you would just probably put yourselves in—"

"Jace," Aeron cuts her off. "Elli and I don't care. We're family. And don't ever forget that."

She fought back the tears that were threatening to fall from her eyes. Her heart warmed from what Aeron said. Though Yukino took care of her as her own, it was still different to hear from your own family that they care. She didn't even felt that from her own father.

"I'm gonna talk to Mom again and prove her that you're different from your father. And whatever happened between him and Aunt Jasmine was not your fault. Remember that, okay?" Aeron said gently at her as he pulled her on his side. "Elli and I are here. You'll never be alone again."

"Shitte iru," she whispered. And for the first time, she believed it.

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Japanese word used and meaning:

*Shitte iru - I know.