Do be warned, SPOILERS for recent manga events! Sorry if this is a little incoherent.

I deleted the chapter prior to this because I wasn't very satisfied with it, sorry for the inconvenience!


"I'm sorry, Miss, but she still doesn't feel much like seeing anyone." Maizou insisted, his gray head bowed, faintly tremulous with age, and eyes downcast.

Kagura shifted uneasily in the gravel at the gate of the house her friend was now staying at. Finally, she nodded and left without a word.

Walking along the road in the evening shadows of the surrounding wall, she made a sharp turn, quickly hurrying to the back entrance.

It wasn't the same way the palace had been. There were only four guards, now, and Kagura managed to slip in without notice, although she nearly got stuck in the azalea hedge a few times.

Needless to say, it probably startled Soyo a little when her friend suddenly appeared, rapping at her door, covered in twigs and leaves.

"What are you doing here?" Soyo gasped after sliding open the panel, blinking in surprise and confusion at the other girl.

"We-llll…" Kagura shrugged slightly. Her plans had played out slightly better in her head than this. "I wanted to come see you." She stated simply.

"I did say I didn't want any visitors." Soyo said quietly.

"I know, but…" Kagura frowned, "I didn't really want you to be alone. I guess." She glanced back at the yard behind her. "Do you mind if I come in? I think the guards are making another round soon."

Soyo hesitated momentarily, but she eventually nodded, helping her friend through the doorway and into her room, kicking off her shoes in the process.

"I can't believe you snuck in." Soyo said in a mildly scolding tone. Although she appeared to be holding back a small smile. A considerably lighter expression than she'd shown in a while, Kagura noted.

"I have my ways, y'know." Kagura said airily.

"I assume 'your ways' mean crawling through the shrubbery to get here." Soyo snorted as she began picking leaves out of Kagura's hair. Kagura made no reply.

Neither one spoke for a while, simply sitting upon the tatami as Soyo removed the last of the debris from Kagura, tossing it aside in a pile.

"I know you didn't really want to see anyone… and I guess it isn't very nice to invade your privacy like this. But, like I said, I didn't think you should be alone." Kagura spoke up, reiterating her reasoning.

"Well." Soyo sighed, scooting forward to sit next to her. "I just wanted some time to think. Everything's changed and it's a lot to take in right now. It's all been a little overwhelming."

"I know." Kagura said evenly.

"I don't think you quite understand." Soyo contended. "I nearly died. The government has fallen apart, my home is gone, my title is gone, my… my brother is gone." Her voice broke at the end of her words. "He died right in front of me. It's better that I just try to sort this out in my head right now."

Kagura turned her gaze to the woven flooring, "I know it's not quite the same situation, but my mom died when I was younger - in front of me, too. She'd been sick for a while. My dad and brother left, so I had take care of things myself… and it was really difficult. I didn't have anyone there for me. Not really any friends, either. I thought I might have a better chance of figuring things out on Earth… and I did! But…" Kagura turned to face her, "I couldn't have done it all alone - and I don't want you to be alone, either."

Soyo was silent for a long moment, until Kagura noticed her shoulders shaking, small sobs eventually breaking through the quiet.

Kagura placed an arm around her. Soyo threw her arms around Kagura in return, hugging her back tightly.

"Okay." Soyo said.