Well, Christmas was fun. The family got bigger, though, which means I might have to buy more presents next year. That kind of sucks, but everything else was great! I got a key chain with Uta from Tokyo Ghoul on it. He is so freaking adorable! Save for those times where Kaneki is a total badass, Uta has to be my favorite male character in the series, followed by Touka's brother. But I guess that's another anime, so we should talk about this one. I rewatched a few of the episodes to write these chapters and the upcoming chapters and ended up bringing myself to tears. I swear, episode ten of Shinsekai Yori is one of the best anime episodes out there! It's the embodiment of loneliness, and to some extent, self hatred. Those themes are pretty dark, but I tend to gravitate towards that kind of stuff if you haven't noticed.

Enough! I talk too much! Get to reading! It's what you came for, anyway.

The sky floats high above us, vividly orange, red, and yellow. It looks more like autumn than the trees, which have only just begun to paint with colors other than green. Water trickles by, at a pace that is neither hasty nor sluggish, preferring an even pace to travel. Every now and again, a bit of it splashes against the side of the canal. The fading grass tickles the bare parts of my skin, giving off a nostalgic smell that makes me miss the forest.

"What do you suppose happened to Shun?"

I look down at Saki, who's lying sprawled in the grass beside me staring at the few wispy clouds that take on paler versions of the colors surrounding them. After school she changed into a pink dress that touches her knees, but I kept on my uniform. It's the only piece of clothing that's actually mine. Everything else I just borrow from her.

"Define 'supposed'," I request.

"Think. What do you think happened to him?" She shifts her head to stare back at me. I meet her gaze for a bit, unresponsive. Giving up, she turns back to the sky.

Shun left once I released him earlier today, and no one has seen him since. He does live a ways away, so he probably went home, but I'm sure everyone had at least one thing they wanted to ask him. I know I have plenty of questions, although I'm not entirely sure how to phrase them all. Then again, even if I could, I don't know if I would ask them anyway.

"I'm worried about him," Saki goes on. "We used to be close, all of us. I'm sure you noticed that for the short period you were with us outside the barrier, even if you didn't know what we were saying. When we got back, though, things sort of fell apart. You needed a guardian, and my parents were happy to volunteer, so I got the duty of watching over you. I don't think Maria has ever really acknowledged your presence, maybe because she feels weary of you, but Mamoru follows her lead on everything." I don't know what the words 'guardian' and 'weary' mean, but I choose to stay silent and let her continue. "That left me to teach you, and Shun whom you cling to. Satoru just kind of...I don't know. He was pretty neutral about you. He didn't really proactively welcome you, but he didn't discriminate." Another few words I don't know. "When he and Shun started going out, they both started distancing themselves. Maria stayed with me, and in turn so did Mamoru, but…"

She trails off, covering her eyes. "I love Maria, I really do, but Mamoru does more! He would do anything for her, and she doesn't even notice him because I monopolize her entirely! What's even worse is that I almost hate him for it! I think that as long as he likes her, there's a possibility he'll take her from me even though she's not mine to begin with! But I might only be using her to get Shun's attention. Aren't I such a terrible person?"

My ears perk up at the mention of Shun's name. I should have anticipated this, considering how ideal he is. Not only is he the most powerful cantus user of his age, save for me, but he's undeniably attractive as well. Not to mention, he's also considerate of others. He is a human female's perfect mate, so of course others like Saki would show an interest in him. I shouldn't be feeling this distaste for her that's bubbling up within me, because she's only feeling what's natural.

"You are not terrible," I defend. "Just confused."

"Thank you," she sniffs. "You really are kind, Kyie. Thanks for staying by me all this time."

I didn't do it out of kindness like she says. She's my guide to humanity, a necessity for me to be able to adapt. I do like her, though, so I keep quiet about that. The wind invades our hush thereafter, carrying my hair out with it.

The crunch of feet on dry leaves betrays the quiet approach of another human, causing me to turn towards the sound while pushing my hair down. When I see the black hair and brilliant emerald eyes, I stumble to rise. Saki notices my activity, realizing my motivation, and hurries to follow me.

"Stay back!" Shun snaps, his steps stalling. I skid to a stop as well, Saki narrowly avoiding running into me from behind. His expression relaxes and he digs into his pocket, bringing out a few iridescent orbs. Using his cantus, he has them circle around his head. "Okay, I think we have time talk for a bit."

"Shun, why must we stay back?" Saki pleads, standing next to me.

"I…" He diverts his eyes, "just want to be alone for a while."

"Is that why you broke up with Satoru?" I glance over at her, confused. Broke up with? Each of those words as individuals, I understand, but to put them together like that doesn't make sense to me.

He doesn't look back, his eyes remaining downcast. "I guess."

"But why are you distancing yourself from us? Because you want to me alone? So much that you'd abandon your friends? What about Kyie?" I raise a brow when she mentions me. "You were the first human she ever met! You know how attached she is to you, but you're avoiding even her!"

Avoiding me? Was he? He let me hug him earlier today. I guess he hasn't been letting me do it as much as I used to as of late, but is that avoidance?

"You wouldn't understand, Saki, even if I explained."

"Shun-"

"I'll be out of school for a while," Shun interrupts. "I have go somewhere to get a special treatment."

We both chorus, "Are you sick?"

"How do I say this…" he searches for words. "It isn't my body that's sick. I really should be going."

He steps away, but I lunge a step forward. "Where are you going?" I demand. I'm fine if he has to go away, but there is no way I'm letting him go somewhere without my knowing where to find him. "I need to know."

He shakes his head. "I don't think you'll be able to come visit. It's just some bungalow for rehabilitation."

"But where?" I push.

"Sorry, I can't tell you."

Saki goes ahead of me, her hands folded in worry. "Will you really be all alone? What about your dog?"

A faint smile makes his way onto his face. "Subaru's at home. I snuck out because I wanted to be alone.

"Isn't there anything I can do?" she cries. Shun simply doesn't respond. Within her, I see a form of determination solidify. "Shun, I have always-"

"You should know this much," he says, cutting her off again. "Remember Summer camp two years ago, where we found Kyie? We thought we were able to hide that our cantus was sealed, but we didn't."

"What do you mean?" she asks, deflating.

"I think they've known all along, but for some reason they've delayed our punishment. It's likely we've been under observation since we've returned." Saki gasps, but the meaning of this part of the conversation all but passes me by. "I don't think I have to tell you this, but be careful of the cats."

"You mean the Copycats?" Okay, I'm officially lost. Observation? What punishment? And what are CopyCats, anyway?

"Here." Ignoring her question, Shun removes a collar from around his neck and tosses it to Saki. "This is a charm against the cats. I made it."

"Subaru has the same, doesn't he?" Her comment almost makes me snicker, but the mood is too grim for that. He's giving her a dog collar? So what, is she a pet to him? Even so, my heart still pinches a little.

I look back to Shun, jaw dropping. He's smiling, as in a full, toothy grin. Even the sadness contained in his eyes is hidden behind his eyelids. Despite his actual feelings, he looks happy.

It fades as quickly as it came, and he opens his eyes and the pain is again evident. "Please let the others know. And Kyie, I'm counting on you to protect the others. You seem to have a knack for surviving, and your cantus is even better than mine."

"I...I will," I stutter, trying to process what he's saying. It sounds like a good-bye, but that can't be right. He wouldn't leave, me. I'm his mate, after all, so if he were leaving for good, he'd take me with him. Right?

He's walking away. I have to stop him. I have to make certain that he isn't leaving me behind, that he does think of me as his mate. Can't he at least make me his official mate? Won't he do that, if he is leaving?

A stubby animal comes dashing down the road, tongue lolling out of its mouth. Shun kneels and picks it up, gazing at it lovingly. At that, my breathing stops. I've never seen that expression on his face at all, much less pointed at me. Does that mean he doesn't see me as his mate? He doesn't….doesn't he like me the same way I like him? Has he ever thought that way about me?

He carries the dog with him as he walks away from us. I watch him, mouth gaping to find words that aren't coming to me. What is this feeling? Why does it feel like my heart is shriveling up inside my chest? I'm not bleeding anywhere, but why does it hurt so much? What is this?

I collapse to my knees, the edges of my sight dimming. The rich colors of the sky have somehow become overwhelming, swallowing the shrinking figure of Shun into their rage. The steady ground that has faithfully been there my entire life tilts, only the sight of it assuring me that it hasn't been pulled out from under me.

Shun...what is going through your head right now? Why are you so scared? Why are you taking your fright and bottling it, separating yourself from us? Why don't you seek safety with us?

Why are you leaving me behind?

This is significantly shorter than the other chapters have been, but this was a scene I felt I had to do. Kyie has started thinking herself distant in this situation. Shun's seclusion is chaffing away at her civilized manner that she's adapted. I think it's at this point she begins to start feeling like a bit of an outsider to humanity. And, of course, simply him separating himself from her is hurting her on its own. How would you feel if your closest friend all of a sudden pushed you away for no reason you can discern? She's growing anxious. Honestly, even I don't know how far this will go yet. I tend to write better when I start off with a set beginning and a very vague end, so not even I, the author, know what she'll end up doing at this point. We'll have to wait and see.

Till then, Kisses from SnowyNeko! :3 MEOW!