~~~~~Mitsuko's POV~~~~
"So, how are things going with my daughter?" I asked. Hirako sighed. His eyes portrayed a deep pain.
"Badly."
I frowned from two reasons. His answer was too short and it was bad news. "You're not very talkative, are you?"
"It's not that. I talk a lot when the topic is pleasant."
"So you don't wanna talk about Tatsuki?"
He sighed, glaring at me annoyed. "No."
"You don't wanna talk about my daughter, you don't wanna talk about yourself, what do you wanna talk about?" I was trying to keep my calm, but I could tell that Hirako wanted to annoy me so he could remain alone with his thoughts.
"I don't wanna talk about anything…"
'Well, that was bold.' I thought. I sat up, preparing to leave. "Well, if you don't want my company, I shall grant your wish."
~~~~Tatsuki's POV~~~~~
I went on the balcony to put some clothes for drying. I saw mum come out and into the house. She didn't say anything as she passed me. I went out and found Shinji there. I stopped in the door frame, looking at him. He wasn't looking at me. He was looking outside, somewhere into the distance. His eyes held a distant look, as if he was in a trance. I scanned him, stopping on the cigarette between his fingers. He inhaled the smoke and blew it around him, creating a mist. He looked just like an illusion; I couldn't be sure he was really there, until I sniffed the smoke. "Hey, you shouldn't smoke here. The smell will remain on the clothes."
Shinji's head turned in my direction, a curious look on his face. "Your mother was smoking here as well."
"Oh, really? But here we put the clothes for drying." I stated.
He rolled his eyes, putting the cigarette away. "Okay. Let me help you."
I nodded as he stood up, leaving the window. He held the basked as I stretched to get to the wires where we usually clipped the clothes. We didn't say anything. 'Is this how my life is going to be? Just tolerating each other's presence, never being more than friends, if it can even be called that?' I looked at him. 'He's alright with this. How long will I live? 50 years, 60, mostly 80 more. He can 'die' earlier and move on. He won't lose anything. He has already had a life and he will live forever unless he gets into a fight, which is improbable considering his current position.' Then another thought hit me. 'Maybe he's bored… he'll get a life and be busy for a while. It has to count for something…' I stopped moving, my arms lying useless by my side. 'What kind of life will it be? What am I going to do?'
"Tats, is there something wrong?" Shinji asked. He looked worried. Was it fake? Did he really care? Could we have more? Will I ever know the truth?
"No… it's nothing." I said, trying to appear normal.
He frowned at my answer. "If you don't have feelings, I understand, if you don't think I can help you be happy, I get it, but you said we can be friends. Now why do you hide stuff? It ain't gonna help."
I nodded, not really listening. "I'm not hiding anything…"
Shinji sighed, encircling his arm around my waist. A familiar feeling appeared in my lower stomach and I felt his grip weaken. "Already?" he whispered. We had noticed that the baby needed a certain quantity of reiatsu, so Shinji gave it and then he could touch me without any troubles. Apparently it wanted more this time. Our eyes were wide as we looked at each other. I was the one who broke the silence.
"Should we tell Kurosaki-san about this?"
Shinji seemed thoughtful for a while. "No, he said it could happen."
"Yeah, but… will you be alright?"
He chuckled. "I'm fine. Remember, I have plenty of reiatsu."
"Okay…"
~~~~That night~~~
I changed and got into bed next to Shinji. We were starting to get used to sharing a room and sleeping together. After I got into the warmth of the blanket, I felt him snuggle closer, spooning me. "Is there anything you wanna ask about?" I whispered.
"You didn't answer me earlier. What are you hiding?" I froze at his words. He probably felt it, because he pulled me closer, kissing my neck. "Listen, Tatsuki, I don't wanna hurt you, but you need to get used to telling me everything. After all, we are going to live together for a long while… probably until you find someone better and throw me away."
My eyes widened at his words. "What… are you saying?"
He sighed. "Isn't it obvious? I can see it. You don't want me here. You just need someone to help you go through this. When you find someone better, someone you will love, I'll just walk away. Because you don't like me, but you need someone."
I gulped. It was true, and I knew it. "It's not that I don't like you…" I started. "… you're nice, and I now you wanna be here… for me, I mean… but…" I couldn't exactly say what I thought, because I didn't know myself.
"But?" he asked, voice full of hope.
"I wanna live with someone I love and loves me back." He didn't say anything. I turned around and saw through the faint light coming from outside that Shinji had a dark look on his face. The tension was choking. "Shinji?"
He shook his head, a sad smile on his face. "Nothing, nothing. Love has a mind of its own."
"Now you're hiding something." I pouted.
"Yeah… I guess I've been hiding it from you for a long time. You can live better without knowing."
My curiosity increased. "What is it? Come on, Shinji, tell me! Please?" I was really curious so I even used the word 'please'. He couldn't say no after this could he?
He looked away this time. "Tats, drop it. I'm not saying it. Not now."
"Oh, kmon!" I chuckled. "It's funny. You know, in the beginning, we weren't even friends…"
"But I loved you nonetheless."
A/N: And… cliffhanger. Okay, I haven't written in a while and now I leave it like this… evil me. Well, a review or two might just change my mind and get it to work.
