someday we'll find it

Next To You.- Yui's POV

"Hahaoya!" Moa called out, searching for her mother in the dark house.  She turned to me, smiling.  " My family sometimes goes to sleep before I get off of work."  I nodded, suddenly feeling upset again.  "Eh? What's wrong?  You're shaking, Yui-chan!"

"Chan?"

"We're friends, right?  If you don't want me to use honorifics that's okay."  I shook my head, confused.  Moa and I had talked occasionally at school, and frequently ate and studied together, but I've always tried to avoid making friends so I don't get hurt when we moved again.... I guess that won't happen anymore because of her.

"No, that's okay.  And I'm okay, thank you.  Just a little cold."  I hadn't even realized that I was shaking.  

"Ah, that's right!  You were out in the cold for so long,  you're probably frozen inside!  I will make us some hot chocolate."

"Really, that's okay..."

"Nonsense!  You're my guest."  Moa began to busily run around the apartment as I tried to decipher why she was being so kind to me.  Did she take pity on me?  Was she trying to trick me into trusting her?  I wasn't about to get burned.  Not again.

"Moa?"  

"Yeah?"

"I think I'd like to go put my stuff down now, where should I go?"

"On the landing of the staircase there is a door- there's a guest room through there.  It's a little small, sorry...."

"Arigato gozaimashita, Moa-chan."  I bowed slightly at her before turning towards the staircase.

I gasped as I opened the door to the guest room.  It was so much larger than anything that I had ever seen before!  Twice the size of my room, at least-or my old room rather.  My old room was a converted closet- this was a hotel suite!  Two beds, an adjoining bathroom, and a television.  I couldn't believe my eyes.

"Come in!"  I called as someone knocked on the door.

"Yui-chan, your hot chocolate is ready. "  She handed the cup to me carefully before taking a sip of her own and sitting on the bed across from me.  "I'm sorry we didn't decorate, we weren't expecting guests..."

"Moa, this is incredible!  I can't believe that this is your guest room!"

"Well, it is a little nicer than my room and my parent's room, but we take good care of our guests.  My mother's siblings used to live here as well, but they moved out when they got jobs.  My grandparents also sleep above the garage."

"That sounds amazing..." I trailed off, looking down at my drink.  My mother never let us see our grandparents.  Something about them being mean to her growing up, but I have a feeling she was the one who made it more difficult on them rather than the other way around.  My eyes began to tear up at the thought that I could have had a large family like that.  Moa doesn't even have siblings yet her family is larger than mine.  Rather, my old one.  

"Yui?  Are you okay?"

"Huh?  Yeah, long day."

"I get it.  I'm going to go to bed now.  If you want me to come down and sleep on the other bed just let me know- I can never sleep alone in unfamiliar rooms."  Moa turned around and began to head upstairs.  

"Moa-chan?"

She whipped around, surprised at the use of -chan after her name.  "Yes, Yui-chan?"

"Thank you for letting me stay here."

"Not a problem!  Anything for my friend."  I smiled at her before she left.

====== 

 I took the hottest shower that I had taken in years before changing into the pajamas that I had brought with me. My mother stopped paying the water bill when I was twelve years old, so my showers haven't been that great. As I rifled through my bag, I spotted something that I hadn't used for six months. The light reflecting off of it called to me. I picked it up, turning it over in my hand a few times before I remembered Moa sleeping just half a story above me.

"Not today," I thought to myself. I hesitated for a few seconds before making an executive decision that I might regret later, but I'd definitely regret the alternative.

====

"Moa-chan?" I called, knocking on her door.

"Come in!"

I opened the door. "Would you mind staying with me?"

"Of course, Yui-chan!" She rose and, grabbing her pillow and blanket, led me down the stairs.

"Why are you bringing your pillow and blanket?"

"I can't sleep without it, I know it's weird but I can't."

"That's not weird, it's perfectly fine! When I was younger I brought my pillowcase to school with me," I said, shocked at myself for opening up to someone I barely knew.

Moa turned the lights off as we got into bed. "Goodnight, Yui-chan."

"See you in the...." was all I was able to get out before sleep took me, being worn out by the events of the day.