A/N: I couldn't decide whether to write the majority of this chapter from Jin's perspective or Karin's. I thought it would be interesting to try to get inside Jin's head a little, but his personality is a bit beyond me. Oh well, I hope it turned out okay in the end. I also changed one of the Genres of the story, because it turned into an anti-comedy. Please enjoy the next chapter! It's a little short, and a little sad (seriously, I'm totally pitying Jin right now!), but I hope it's good!
I opened my eyes, blinking at the ceiling, a smile on my face. Today, I get to see my Goddess! I made myself a quick breakfast, set the kettle on to boil, and put my laundry out to dry, hanging it on the trees behind my small house. Of course, I'll have to deal with that annoying girly-boy. But, It's worth it, to see my Goddess. I twisted the ring on my finger slowly, lost in thought. I remembered what it was like, destroying the seeds of chaos. There was a large blank spot in my memory, and I was trying desperately to fill it, with Karin's help. Slowly, the pieces were beginning to fall into place, but they didn't feel like MY memories. It felt like they belonged to another Kuga Jin. I didn't quite understand that, but Karin said that in a way, they did belong to another Jin, and that soon I'd understand what she meant. I placed all my trust in her, letting myself be swept forward by her comforting words; tossed into the vast sea of my mind, struggling against currents to find the lost streams of memory. It's all thanks to her that I have the courage and the ability to rebuild my lost memories. The whistle of the kettle woke me from my reverie, and I stood slowly, the shrill whistle echoing against my eardrums. Moving into the kitchen, I removed the kettle from the heat, pouring the scalding water over the tea strainer sitting in my cup. When it had finished steeping, I stirred some cream into the black liquid, and sat at my small table to enjoy it, savoring the last of the cream, and the last of the tealeaves. I'm going to have to go shopping again.
~Later That Day~
I tried to suppress the pang of jealously I felt as I approached Kujyou Kazune's mansion. Why can he afford to live here, while I'm forced to dwell in a shack? Taking a deep breath, I took another step toward the huge oak door. One step at a time. Before long, I was knocking, my knuckles making a dull thudding noise against the oak. Karin opened the door, and before I knew what I was doing, I had enveloped her in a hug, taking in her scent. I released all of her but her hand, and brought it delicately to my lips, bowing slightly as I did so, as always, and mumbled, "My Goddess." She giggled and pulled me through the door. I released her hand as I stumbled over the threshold. Catching my balance quickly, I followed her all the way to the living room, where I found everyone waiting. The atmosphere was tense, and nobody said a word. Uncertain, I fell into a soft chair, my eyes firmly locked on Karin's. She nervously glanced between Kujyou and I. He took her hand, and gave it a squeeze. "Jin-Kun," she said quietly, "We have something very important to tell you."
As I finished my announcement, I watched Jin-Kun for a reaction. He sat there, staring at the wall above our heads for several minutes. Nobody said a word and the tension was palpable. Kazune-Kun never let go of my hand, and periodically squeezed it, each squeeze a reminder that he was here for me, no matter what Jin-Kun's reaction was. Finally, Jin-Kun stood up and walked from the room, without uttering a word. Worried, I stood up to follow him. Kazune stood, too, clearly intending to come along. "I think I should go alone," I said, quietly. He released my hand and sat down on the couch again, his eyes betraying his concern for me. "I just need to make sure he's okay." I murmured to him before I turned around and left the room, feeling like if I stayed any longer, I wouldn't have the courage to follow Jin-Kun. He was sitting, slouched forward, his shadow narrow and frail-looking on the wall outside. His head was buried in his hands. He looked so.. Broken. That's the word I'm looking for. I sat beside him, quiet, ready to listen. "I can't believe this, my Goddess. You're… Really going to do this?" He said softly, not looking up. "Yes. Jin-Kun, you knew that Kazune-Kun and I are married in the future, right?" He nodded. "I just, couldn't help wishing that Goddess would change the future," he muttered. "I'm sorry, Jin-Kun," I knew that nothing I said would help, so I just leaned my head against his shoulder, and fell silent.
I couldn't feel anything. There was just an empty void, where my heart should be. My Goddess is marrying that girly-boy. I tried to wrap my head around the concept, but I couldn't. The thought just floated around my brain, detached and alone. She's not going to decide to be with you. She'll never love you the way you dreamed she would. I was sure I was drowning, there in his house. Dying slowly from the inside. What now? What's going to become of me? I was sure that everyone thought I had left, and I waited for them to start to talk, expecting some quiet chatter, even some nervous laughter. But it never came. Instead, the most unexpected and wonderful thing happened: Karin came. And, one more time, I let her voice soothe my soul, wash away the calluses, and the anger, and the hurt. I spoke, and she listened, then she spoke, and I listened. Finally, our quiet conversation was at an end. I expected her to stand, to return to her 'Kazune-Kun', to walk away from me, from us. But then, she surprised me again. She rested her head on my shoulder, and stayed with me. Without uttering a single a word, she had once again shown me why I loved her so much.
