Her chin made a straight line pointing down into the dirt. Her eyelids were shut, long dark eyelashes brushing over pale skin. The rain poured down her, but she paid it no attention, allowing it to run through her clothes. It made trails down her cheeks, covering the tears she shed.
A man stepped out next to her, looking down at her kneeling form.
She didn't react to his presence, not wanting to give away her current state of mentality.
"Yer getting soaked, Kataki," he murmured, his voice barely louder than the rain falling down around them.
She didn't respond, still afraid her voice would give her away.
He knelt down next to her and stared at her, his dark eyes oddly mellow. After a moment, he placed a hand on her shoulder.
Kataki lowered her shoulder so his hand fell off. "Don't, Mugen," she whispered.
"Why?" He asked. "What's goin' on? Ya haven't been yerself the entire day…"
She shrugged.
"Have I done something…?" He tilted his head slightly.
She shook her head and waited a moment to get her voice under control before she spoke. "I'm… having one of those days."
"Those days?"
"Where I feel alone…" She explained quietly. "When I could be surrounded… by everyone I've ever loved… and I'd still fell so completely… alone."
Mugen stared at her for a quiet moment.
"I'll be fine tomorrow," she said, her eyes still shut.
He tilted his head to the side again. "But I want'cha ta be fine now."
She shook her head.
But she was interrupted by a pair of arms wrapping around her cold, wet frame. She gasped a little at the heat coming off of his body.
"Fuu's out working late n' Jin is sleeping like a rock," Mugen breathed in her ear, making her shiver.
Kataki was silent.
A low growl came from the back of Mugen's throat. "C'mon, help me out here!"
Kataki's eyes squeezed tighter.
Mugen sighed and moved so he was sitting in front of her, his hands gripping her upper arms. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap… I just… I don't want to see ya like this. I want'cha to be happy."
She finally opened her eyes. "I'm sorry."
His smirk was gentle. "Don't be." He scooped her up into his arms, holding her close. He stepped into the room they were renting out for the night and set her down so her head was resting on a blanket the inn owner had given them. He laid down next to her and pulled her close, protectively laying his arms around her.
"What are you doing?" She asked into his chest.
"Tryin' ta make you feel less alone," he said.
Kataki stared at his wet clothes silently, then smiled a little to herself.