Author's Note: This is a short side story that will follow Musa and Shin mostly. I will tell you which chapters the events in this fic will occur or if they are between Chapters. This particular one will fall at the end of chapter 25.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Winx Club or Ronin Warriors
Warning: Dark Themes, talk of Torture.
Chapter 1) Breaking the Silence
Musa's hands were hot, her chest tight and head buzzing like it was filled with thousands of wasps. Her hair swing like a pendulum from her high ponytail as she moved with purpose, though frustration lead her to stomping. Musa wasn't surprised at how quiet the halls were after all most of the resident should be in classes. She hastened her stride as she headed up the stairs to the third floor where their rooms were. As she neared the top Musa couldn't help but slow down as she could hear Shin's voice and Ryo's as well.
"Shin you know you can talk to me, or any of us."
Musa paused at Ryo's voice. She bit her lip and pressed her hand against the wall. She knew she shouldn't eavesdrop but she couldn't stop herself from staying hidden and listening. She could hear a sad chuckle from Shin before he sighed.
"Ryo, believe me I know I can. I also know if you could you would shoulder this for us all." Shin had started and Ryo chuckled nervously. "I also know that right now you, Shu, Touma, and Seiji need some quiet and peace. That we all need a moment, Ryo. I just need somewhere with noise or sound, that's all." Shin insisted.
"Okay Shin, but dude, don't hesitate to ask for help." Ryo seemed to be pretty worried from his tone but Shin just laughed.
"Ryo, I will. You know I will."
"I'm sorry we didn't know. Touma and I, we should have got to you guys sooner." Ryo lamented his voice almost to soft for Musa to hear. She recalled something Kayura said and wondered what wasn't being told to them. She knew torture was good but it was hard for her to image something that would bother the ronin, warlord, and Kayura so much.
"Ryo… I know if you could change things you would. I don't blame you, or anyone but Arago. So please go find some peace, because you know the unease is only going to grow. We have a hard battle ahead." Shin sighed heavily and Ryo nodded before turning to head back into the room leaving Shin alone. Shin let out a shake breath as he watched the door shut. He was so focused there that he didn't see Musa.
"Shi-Ah!"
"Whoa!"
Musa tried to warn him but it was too late. Their bodies collided and she nearly fell back, down the stairs. Her foot nearly was off the edge when Shin's hand was around her wrist pulling her up. The force hurt a bit, and had them colliding again only this time Shin stepped back. His other hand wrapped around her waist steadying her. Musa looked up to him and she could see why Ryo was worried. Shin's sea-green eyes were bewildered, lost, and almost scared.
"Musa." Shin finally said his brows knitting together in confusion.
"Hi, I wanted to check on everyone. You know, you guys are the reason we got here safely but everyone is acting so stupid." Musa rambled and she could feel the tense in Shin's grip relaxing. "Hey you want to go and talk? I could show you around, the girls are going to call me when Stella's up."
"Musa… I, I would like that." Shin smiled letting go of Musa, and she felt disappointed. "Oh and sorry for almost knocking you down."
"No biggy, you've got good reflexes. Besides it's my fault. I heard you and Ryo talking and didn't want to interrupt." Musa admitted with a shrug and a blush. She nodded her head towards the right and started leading Shin down the hall. When Shin didn't answer Musa looked over at him. His eyes were watching the floor, his shoulders tense and she could hear the harsh breaths he was taking. It was like he'd run a race, but the look in his eyes. There was shame, fear, guilt, and a touch of anger. Musa couldn't help but put her hand against his bicep drawing his gaze to her.
"I get that something bad happened. You don't have to tell me, but if there's something wrong I wish you guys would let us know." Musa sighed as she stepped out onto a balcony overlooking a rather empty quad. It would stay that way for long but for now there was only the sound of the wind through the trees and the soft songs of birds. She leaned against the railing and soon Shin was beside her.
"Musa… There isn't anything wrong with any of us right now… Except me. I'm just a bit shaken that's all." Shin said softly as he touched the rail.
"Shin I could hear that Ryo was worried. And with everyone here acting so-"
"Musa we are used to whispers, and hard stares. It isn't easy to handle but right now the threat of the Dynasty is more important." Shin said and Musa let her frustration go long enough to look at him and saw a touch of sorrow. It was something that always reflected briefly on his face when the topic turned toward the violence that he would be involved in.
"So it does bother you?" Musa asked and Shin nodded.
"I wish the people here would trust us, trust me, but I also understand how precious trust is, and how it must be earned." Shin sighed and turned his gaze to her. The wind was tossing her hair with a feather light touch, making her bangs wave and pulling just a few hairs from her ponytail to dance in the wind. She was lovely, with the light shining around her, and Shin wondered if Musa realised how lovely she was.
"Yeah… Well if they don't warm up to you their not worth it." Musa said flushing as she noticed he was staring at her. The light was bringing out the hint of red in Shin's hair that had a slight wave to it. "Hey Shin, thanks for actually telling me." Musa said as she forced herself to look back over the quad.
"It's nothing." Shin smiled and looked out as people started to gather below in the quad. He couldn't make out anything but he could hear their voices and it was soothing. Ever since the Dynasty attacked Shin found himself finding peace in the vitality of live. Still it seemed that to Musa telling her what was wrong made her feel better. "Thank you for bringing me here. It's nice." Shin smiled and Musa returned his smile.
"You don't like silence huh?" Musa ventured and Shin titled his head giving her a puzzling look. "Just something you said to Ryo made me think you like things busy."
"Oh… Well actually it's more I feel like I'll go crazy if there is no sound." Shin frowned his hand tensing around the railing and Musa felt like kicking herself.
"Shin. Did something happen when you were with Stella? You've been tense and you can tell me." Musa urged and the look in his eyes made her wish that she hadn't. The look was so sad and filled with shame.
"It shouldn't have bothered me so much." Shin started as he ran his hand through his hair. "The guards saw me with Stella, only she was passed out. I understand their assumption, and actions, but I didn't realize how much I'm still affected by the time I was captured by the dynasty. They took Stella and led me to holding cells. I let them, I didn't want to fight but being alone in that cell I… I couldn't stop thinking about the Dynasty. If I closed my eyes I felt like I was back there. I knew I wasn't but… But it didn't matter." Shin said. "So I've been in a state of an anxiety attack for a bit, it's getting better now. It was bad enough though that it worried Stella too."
"What happened. I mean when the Dynasty captured you." Musa asked. She wanted to know what was so horrible that everyone got quiet around the topic. That Shin would still have lingering scars on his mind.
"I.. I was there a week before anyone else was captured. Or that's what Seiji told me. To me it had felt longer. I hung by my wrist in the dark with not a single sound unless I was screaming. I couldn't see who my tormentor's were and they never said anything either. The only sound I heard would be the slamming of the door when they left me alone." Shin said his voice shaking and Musa looked away. She'd had nightmare of worlds without sound but to live it for a week. It seemed horrible.
"I thought I would go insane. Silence claws at me still reminding me of that time. I can't sleep, or function in silence. Every time it's quiet I can feel the blades, the pain from the shocks, and the hot burn of the metal on my skin when the lightning hit the metal. They wanted me to join the Dynasty and asked me to the first day, and when I refused they promised my torment wouldn't end until they had the armor. How right they were." Shin scoffed bitterly. "I never wanted to be a ronin to fight anyone. But I was chosen and now I will never be able to go back to before. Even if there is peace, the Dynasty left too many scars to ignore."
Musa knew now with even more certainty that she was right to follow after Shin. To check on him, the pain in his voice the way his knuckles were white as he held onto the railing, his body tense and guarded like he was expecting a blow. Musa moved closer to him and placed her hand over his. She let her head rest on his shoulder and soon she could feel him relaxing just a bit.
"You're right you can't go back. But you can go forward." Musa murmured as she watched the student below, relaxing and talking. Musa lifted her head and pushed on Shin's shoulder so he would turn towards her. There was still a look of shame on his face, but the anxiety was gone. Musa was starting to see why Flora kept quiet for Seiji, it seemed what happened to Shin, Shu, and Seiji bothered and ashamed them. She wondered if they thought about what they could have done to prevent this. Still with Shin facing her Musa wrapped her arms around him and closed her eyes and she held him. There was a lingering smell of salt and lotion, something that suited Shin.
Shin let go of a shaky breath and wrapped his arms around Musa. It felt so nice to hold her, to feel her soft hair against his wrist and hand. Her soft perfume was relaxing and not overly strong, which he liked. He shouldn't have let Musa see him like this, it was something he knew he could talk about but only Seiji and Shu understood why he didn't want to talk. All of them felt it the loss of control, shame, and the frustration of not being able to move passed this event. They even changed some of their habit to avoid people seeing their scars. Yet Musa wasn't running, from him being a ronin or from what he told her. She was instead embracing him, as a friend, and in away he didn't think he would ever find in someone who hadn't been with him through it all.
Musa closed her eyes and just let things wash over her, from how warm Shin felt to how this whole ordeal had been a roller coaster for all of them. She wished things could even out but it looked like that wouldn't happen any time soon. With her eyes closed and just the soft sounds of the courtyard and the steady beat of Shin's heart she started to hum. A gentle melody but not one known to her, just what felt right. As she hummed she could feel Shin's hands moving from her mid back. One settling on her waist, while his other hand gently caressed her cheek and tilted her face towards him as he stepped back.
"Musa, thank you." Shin smiled as she stopped humming. She was beautiful to him, and that fact had only become more apparent to him every day since their first meeting. He was glad that she had opened up to him, as well as his friends. "If there is one thing that makes this fight more bearable it is that i met you and your friends the winx." Shin said as he finished stepping back. "I should though head back to the others dinner time is approaching and I don't want to leave Nasuti with the task of reminding them the time." Shin smiled and Musa nodded.
Musa wasn't sure why but she felt a touch of sadness and longing as Shin pulled away and started to leave. She liked being so close to Shin, it felt nice, and she wanted for it to happen again. She liked being around him, that was all this wasn't a crush like Stella had claimed.
"Wait up. I'll come with you, then swing by to see the girls and how Stella's doing okay?" Musa called out and Shin grinned.
"That's sounds like a plan then. Though I'll warn you Ryo can be a handful when he's trying to shoulder the weight of the world by himself." Shin laughed, and Musa smiled. She definitely liked this.
