A/N: Here's another chapter, to make up for the lateness of the last one. I really like this chapter. Tell me what you think of Tsubaki in this one.

Anyways, hope you enjoy! *Serious Russian accent* Or else. HAHA. No. SERGEI JUST KIDDING!

*Clears throat* Anyway. Enjoy! (And no. I do not know what that was.)

- Nonmatter


"Soul?" He opened his eyes and turned to the source of the voice. "What were you doing, just sitting on our couch with your eyes closed?"

"Oh nothing Tsubaki. Just reminiscing. About Liz." He sighed. He didn't know why he was saying this. He never talked about his feelings. That was uncool. Besides, his friends hadn't reached sensitivity yet. That was REALLY deep layer. Oh well.

"Oh, Soul. I know how it feels to lose someone. It hurts. It's like someone ripped out a piece of your heart when they left. And there's nothing you can do about it."

"What? How would you know?" Soul was puzzled. Tsubaki was ever like this. She may be shy and sometimes withdrawn, but she was always calm and cheerful! Where was this coming from?

"I've only told Black*Star about this, since he's my closest friend, but I feel like you would understand." Soul was quiet. Black*Star huh? He had noticed those two getting closer, but it made sense, what with Black*Star's family heritage being Japanese like Tsubaki.

"I was really young. I don't exactly remember what happened, but something happened to my brother. He was much older than me, but I remember playing with him. He was a good man, and a better brother. I was so sad when my parents told me what had happened. You see, my brother had gone insane. He ended up killing a lot of people, and was put away behind bars. Two days after being arrested, he committed suicide. I loved him so much. We all did. I think it brought us closer together as a family, but I still hold a place I my heart for him." She smiled sadly. "It's good to tell someone else your pains. It helps with the pain. Helps you get over it. Don't think this is sympathy though. 'I'm sorry, that's terrible' just makes it hurt more, I think. I know what it's like, so I can empathize. It gets better, Soul, don't you worry. You just have to get up and move on. It does no one good if you sit around looking back, instead of ahead. Or, even better, thinking about what you're going to do now to help."

Sometimes, Soul thought, wisdom comes from the strangest places.

"Thank you, Tsubaki. You know, maybe one day, I'll take you up on your advice. But for now, it just is too fresh a wound. The pain is still too great, even after months." He smirked, albeit somewhat sadly. "She never could understand why I chose law over music producing. I told her it was because law made more money, and a cool guy like me needed money. The truth? I wanted to become a lawyer for her, so I could support us later in life. I barely could keep up with the bills for one person, even with Liz working, as a music producer. I didn't want us to be in a bad place with money when we got our own place and had kids or something." He grumbled out the last part, "Not that I wanted kids with her or anything. Dads are uncool."

Tsubaki laughed. With that, she got up, and told him breakfast would be ready in just a little while. She even had the nerve to tell him to get off his lazy ass and go wake up the others. "Oh, and Soul? I'm glad we had this conversation. It was good for both of us, I think."

"I'm glad, too. It was good wasn't it? Either way, I better go wake everyone up."

I have to give her mad props for what she just did, he thought, it takes some serious courage to talk to me about all that. I have to return the favor sometime, cuz that's just what cool guys do. Maybe I should show her the sensitive layer? Nah. I'm not ready for that yet. Besides, she's gonna have to do better than that to peel back that layer!


Anyways, tell me what you guys think. Also, check my profile for updates! I'll try to post updates often. (Might even throw some teasers on there!)

Reviews are the best! :)

Like a mountain, once at the top, you can only go down.

- Nonmatter