Disclaimer: I do not own Citrus.

Chapter Four:

Harumi giggled as she saw Yuzu get some syrup on her face. The two had ordered their food and were currently enjoying it.
"You've got some syrup on your face, Yuzucchi!" Harumi said, which caused the blonde to panic. Yuzu quickly grabbed a napkin and wiped her face.
"Is it off now, Harumi?" Yuzu asked, looking straight into her eyes. Yuzu was so… innocent and cute. Harumi softly blushed.
"No it's not- here I'll just get it for you." Harumi grabbed another napkin and gently wiped the syrup that was on Yuzu's face off. 'Her skin looks so soft.. I wish I could-'
"Uhh Harumi? You okay?" Yuzu asked, nervously chuckling. Harumi realized she had been wiping Yuzu's face for an unusual amount of time.
"U-Uh sorry! I was just thinking about something!" Harumi quickly pulled her hands back and returned to her normal position. Yuzu blinked, a bit confused. She shrugged it off.
"Harumi, I told you that you should've gotten more food. You barely got anything to eat here. You need to start eating more." Yuzu said, softly sighing. She already felt tired and their day was just starting...
"It's alright, I told you already! I'm not a big eater anyways.." Harumi mumbled, propping up her face with her hands. Yuzu couldn't argue anymore. She was too full from the food. Leaning back, Yuzu softly rubbed her belly.
"Done eating, Yuzu?" Harumi asked. Yuzu nodded, smiling.
"Thank you, Harumi, I enjoyed it a lot." Yuzu said, and blew Harumi a kiss. Harumi visibly blushed and looked away.
"It's no problem.." Harumi whispered, rubbing the nape of her neck. Her heart fluttered. "I'll be back, I'm gonna pay." Harumi said, then quickly got up and took the bill. Their waiter had given them the bill awhile ago, Yuzu was just a slow eater.

After Harumi had paid, both of the girls left and decided on going to shop. (If they had gotten their nails done first, they could've risked ruining them while shopping, which would not be good.) They walked in the streets, talking softly about the newest fashion and mainstream entertainment. It was Saturday, and it was busy. Citizens were out running errands and doing as much as they could before they were sucked back into the five-day business week.
"Hey, the light is about to turn green, stop Yuzucchi. We can wait thirty seconds." Harumi said, stopping Yuzu at the walkway. Yuzu had been so busy talking that she had forgotten to pay attention.

"O-Oh yeah, thanks." She said, looking at the street. It was rush hour. Cars and trucks drove past quickly, making a huge gust of wind blow at the two girls. Yuzu yelped as the wind hit her, and hid behind Harumi. Harumi looked back at Yuzu and smiled,
"Yuzucchi, c'mon. The lights are red now. We can wal-" Harumi stopped dead in her tracks as she saw Mei walking towards them. Their eyes met for a split second. Her determined eyes stood out in the bland crowd. 'Mei?! What the hell is she doing here?!' Harumi thought, her eyes widening. 'More importantly, I can't let Yuzu see Mei right after last night. I won't allow it.' Harumi quickly grabbed Yuzu and walked across the walkway with her. She was practically pulling Yuzu along, as if she was a dog on a leash.

"H-Harumi! What's with the big rush?" Yuzu quickly asked, jogging a bit to keep up with Harumi. Harumi thought, desperately trying to think of a lie. She absolutely did not want Yuzu to see Mei. This was their day.. Mei was not going to just appear and steal Yuzu from her like she always did.

"I just really want to get our shopping done! That's all!" Harumi quickly spat out, forcing out a smile. She tried to conceal her anger as she thought about Mei. Mei was the cause of all her problems right now. 'Walk… Just keep walking so we don't have to deal with her..' Harumi thought, still pulling Yuzu with her as she swiftly avoided bumping into people. Yuzu got even more skeptical as she heard Harumi. Her brows furrowed, and she forced the two to stop.
"Harumi, what is going on?" Yuzu asked, making the other girl stop and pay attention to her. Harumi's mouth opened, but nothing came out. She was right on their tail the whole time.
"Yuzu?" A familiar voice called out to the blonde. As soon as Yuzu heard her voice, she froze, her eyes widening. Slowly, Yuzu turned around to see Mei, softly panting. 'No…' Yuzu suddenly had flashbacks of the previous night.. Mei's irresistible kisses and touches, her hurtful and jealous words when Yuzu refused, and the tears. Her eyes immediately began to fill as Mei's presence began to pierce her soul. Harumi clenched Yuzu's hand, showing her that she was here for her.
"Get the hell away from us. She doesn't want to see you." Harumi said to Mei, clenching her jaw. Mei looked over at Harumi, finally acknowledging her.

"I will not let someone so.. reckless and unimportant speak for Yuzu. Besides, I've come to apologize." Mei's gaze landed back on Yuzu, who was now mute. 'Please.. Let me make this up to you..' Mei thought. Yuzu looked at the ground, letting the heavy tears weigh her down and drop onto her face. She was feeling overwhelmed. Harumi's hateful tone scared her a bit.

Upon seeing Yuzu and hearing Mei, Harumi lost it.
"Who the fuck do you think you are, coming in here after using Yuzu for your own pleasures? You do not just get to treat people as your little toys to play with! The audacity for you to even show up after what you did last night…" Harumi shook her head, but her voice got louder. People around the small group noticed, but didn't interfere. "You think her feelings are some kind of test? Or game? The only thing you did last night was hurt Yuzu and made a fool out of yourself!" She continued, pressing forward and yelling in Mei's face. Mei visibly got redder, and clenched her fists.
"You act like you're free of mistakes. You're no good to Yuzu either. A horrible influence is what you are. You taint Yuzu with your rebellious ways, and dumb her down. You take full possession of her all the time, acting like she's yours!" Mei countered, her jealousy shining brightly. She was clearly disturbed, with her voice raising as well. Harumi laughed loudly after hearing Mei.
"Really? Me? A bad influence? Says the person who literally broke her! You don't deserve Yuzu. You're a piece of jealous scum that needs to f-"

"Stop! Just stop already!" Yuzu yelled, louder than the both of them. Her body trembled and more tears fell. "I can't take this anymore! I can't take you two fighting like this! Everyday I wake up and I'm overly-conscious, trying not to piss you guys off! You're constantly tearing at each other's throats for what? To win me over? Those remarks you say to each other so carelessly hurt me too! Both of you hurt me more when you fight.. I'm done." Yuzu wiped her nose. With a vision blurred by tears, Yuzu quickly turned away from the two girls and ran. Where? She didn't know where, but it was away. Away from all of her sadness, problems, pain. No one could stop her.

Harumi and Mei's eyes widened. They both called out for her.
"YUZU!" They yelled, running after her. Then they both abruptly stopped. It was too late.

"No!" Mei yelled.

"Stop!" Harumi pleaded.

Both of the girls could feel their world slow down and start to darken.

A horn blared, people screamed, and Yuzu was on the ground with blood starting to pour out of her.

She had ran right into the road, and got hit by a semi-truck.

Upon seeing this, Mei and Harumi were both taken aback. In a split second, Harumi snapped back to her senses and ran in the road, mimicking the crowd that had gathered. They quickly absorbed Yuzu, taking all the eyespace from anyone.

But Harumi was stronger than that.

She pushed past people, screaming at the top of her lungs for them to move. And she did make it. Kneeling, Harumi hungrily grabbed Yuzu, and held her in her arms, searching for life in the girl.

Harumi could feel her heart break and stop when she saw Yuzu this close. Her ears ringed, her body shook.

Just a few minutes ago Yuzu was eating happily, laughing, enjoying herself. Her bright eyes and friendly smile never failed to make Harumi feel some type of way.

Now she was lying in a street surrounded by people, hurt, eyes closed.

All because of Mei.

"Y-Yuzucchi?" She whispered, softly shaking her. Yuzu didn't wake up. Harumi shook Yuzu harder. "Yuzu? Yuzu!" Harumi screamed, shaking her harder. Yuzu didn't wake up.

Yuzu didn't wake up.

"Hey! What the fuck is wrong with you?!" A guy shouted at Harumi.

People were shouting, calling 911, going ballistic. Harumi could hear people shouting but it was all a blur, a different language.

"An ambulance is coming!"

"Hurry! She's not breathing!"

"Move! Move!"

Paramedics came and dissolved the crowd. They made it to Harumi and stopped.

Harumi was holding Yuzu to her chest, her frame shook, tears raced down her face, and blood was everywhere.

"No.." Harumi knew she would have to give Yuzu up to the paramedics, but she was scared.

Scared that this was the last time she was going to see Yuzu, feel her still warm, and hold her.

She couldn't give up her Yuzucchi.

But she had to.

If she wanted Yuzu to live, she would have to.

Harumi gave Yuzu up to the paramedics, letting them take her away and in the ambulance. It was the hardest thing she had ever done in her life. Yuzu was put on a stretcher and gone. Gone from her sight.

"Hey Miss! Can you come with me? I've got to ask you some questions." An officer looked down at Harumi and held his hand out.

At this point, Harumi could only do what she was told. She took his hand and stood up, feeling light-headed and nauseous.
A paramedic came over and examined Harumi. It was quick, and it meant nothing to Harumi. She stared blankly, in the same direction the ambulance sped off with Yuzu.

"She's not hurt, just shooken up. She'll be fine." The paramedic reported, and left to go check on other people. The officer nodded and looked back at Harumi.

"Can you tell me everything that happened just now?" He asked, his face soft and patient.

As Harumi finally looked around, she saw yellow tape being put up, the driver of the semi was being interviewed, people were still standing around but the majority of the crowd had been shooed away by the police, and Mei.

Mei.

She was being interviewed by the police as well.

Harumi felt her blood boil to a temperature that was unimaginable.