Short update since I'm alittle pressed for time. Enjoy (: I hope this doesn't disappoint the people who were expecting a more melodramatic scene.

After we came back, Shizuru spent a god-awful long time in the shower. When she finally came out, she looked slightly lost. She blinked twice at me then sat down on the edge of my bed. "Is there anything to eat? I'm starving"

It was my turn to blink owlishly at her. Huh? Isn't she supposed to be traumatized? Do traumatized people have an appetite? I don't know.

I reached for the plastic bag at my feet. "I told Mai you were sick and that we were going back to the hostel instead. She came by just now and brought us the leftovers from dinner. There's quite abit." I handed her one of the plastic container that contained a mixture of rice, soup and various other condiments mixed in.

"Thank you." Without hesitation, she started eating.

I watched her warily. A scene from a traditional drama show pops into my mind. It involves the protagonist eating, and as she eats she starts to cry. I wait for an outburst of tears. It doesn't come. I start to marvel at her appetite. I hate to admit it. Mine has completely been washed down the drain. Even mayonnaise doesn't sound appetizing now.

"Erm…Shizuru."

She looked up at me questioningly. "Yes, Natsuki?" Wet cinnamon brown hair fell across her face.

I brushed it aside and tucked it behind her ear. "Do you want to talk about what happened?"

"Well if you want to know…" She placed her chopsticks aside. With an index finger on her cheek, she rested her chin on the palm of her hand. "It was my fault."

"HUH?" Is this what they called victim's guilt?

"You see, I was going to wait for Natsuki outside the shop when I saw two men following this lady. I started to tail them. They made quite a few turns, and so we walked pretty far downtown. I was surprised Natsuki was able to find me as she did."

"I combed the area."

She smiled at me. "Ara how diligent, my knightess in shining armour. Anyhow, I was convinced they were indeed tailing her after she took a series of complicated turns and they followed. When they closed in on her in the alley, I yelled at her to run. She fled. I was about to take the two men on, when I was attacked from behind by a third man." She shrugged. "That's pretty much when Natsuki showed up. It was my fault. I was too overconfident. I should have paid more attention to my surroundings."

"That's being rather harsh on yourself. You saved a woman today. You should be proud of yourself."

Shizuru gave me a displeased look. "I am a Fujino. We don't make mistakes."

I rolled my eyes at her. "You're human, you're allowed to make them."

She picked up her chopstick and resumed her meal. "Well what's done is done. I deserved what I got for being careless."

I don't know what came over me. I hit her. One second I was sitting there watching her with concern. And the next, my hand was moving faster than my brain could register, and I hit the chopsticks out of her hand. One flipped over the edge of the container, the other one went flying in the air to land near the door.

I could feel my breath heaving in and out. It was only when Shizuru looked up at me with wary eyes that I realized I was standing.

"Natsuki?" she said my name slowly.

I turned around and walked towards the window. I needed to get a grip on my anger. Looking out of the window, I noted that there were no stars in the sky. The moon is out of sight too. I stare up at a blank canvas of darkness. What am I doing? Shizuru needs comforting. Why am I angry at her?

But I know the reason. "How can you say you deserved it?" I asked quietly without turning around.

"As I said, I was careless. It was my fault."

How.

Can.

She.

Say.

Those.

Words.

And.

Really.

Believe.

Them.

I walked back towards the desk and sat down on my chair. I notice that she has picked up the chopsticks and placed them on the desk. The container of food sits half empty on the desk. "Nobody." I took a deep breath. "Absolutely, nobody deserves to be molested or raped."

"It was a consequence of—"

"No, Shizuru. You're wrong this time. It doesn't matter if you're the scum of the earth, the girl next door, or even a prostitute. Nobody deserves to have their body violated." I rest my hand gently on top of her head. "And you. You're Shizuru Fujino. Yes, you're a heirness of the Fujino Corporation. You're also a beautiful and gorgeous lady. And you have a big heart, a bigger heart than mine. You think about people a lot more than yourself. You certainly didn't deserve to be…groped by the likes of that man."

"That was quite the romantic speech. Beautiful and gorgeous huh?" she grinned at me. "I didn't know Natsuki thinks I'm gorgeous and beauiful. After all, she never comments about my looks and always denies my attractiveness. Ara, you are turning red." She giggled.

"I…I'm not. It's just alittle hot in the room don't you think." The mood in the air seems lighter. Although, I want to ask her if she's all right, it seems as though she wants to put it behind her.

She takes the other container out of the bag and pushes it across the table. "Yes, real hot I'm sure. Eat up?"

Frankly, my appetite still isn't back. I take the container anyway. "Sure, I'll join you." I start to eat. Before a while passes, I noticed that Shizuru is staring strangely at me.

"Something the matter?" I asked.

"Your mayo."

I notice there is no mayonnaise in my food. "Oh yes, right mayo." I smile at her. "How could I forget? No wonder it's a little bland."

Shizuru pulls out my desk drawer and tosses me a packet of mayo.

I pour it onto my food. It's still bland. Perhaps revenge will taste sweet and nicer. I still haven't forgotten. They made Shizuru cry.