Chapter 9: Origins of Mamoru

Why is the world so twisted?

Why do we try to keep living when death is inevitable?

Why do we love when it's so easy to get heartbroken?

Why do we fight when we know we are going to lose?

Why do we try to be normal when that seems like an impossible dream.

Am I Normal?

Well? Nezumi?

Nezumi sat on the bed next to Shion while he slept soundly. He would occasionally look over to the other boy's sleeping form watching and waiting patiently for his friend to wake.

He refused to leave Shion's bedside. More than once Rikiga had asked Nezumi to go to bed and promised he'd keep watch but Nezumi wouldn't budge.

Nezumi placed a hand on top of Shion's hand feeling the other boy's warmth. "The living are warm." Nezumi whispered under his breath.

As things were at that moment it seemed like a scene out of Sleeping Beauty, The beautiful princess resting in an eternal sleep until her prince wakes her with true love's kiss.

This however was not the same story, there was no prince and princess that kiss and live happily ever after, this story was more unsettling. This was the reality of two young kids, not exactly teenagers but not exactly adults either.

It was not a simple prick of the finger sends the princess into eternal sleep, this was more like Sleeping Beauty meets Jekyll and Hyde. Trapped in an eternal dream/nightmare, it was a fight for one's own sanity, a fight for control over one's body.

How long had this struggle gone on for, Nezumi lost count. According to Rikiga and Inukashi this was the longest time that Shion had been in a coma for. This was not going well for anyone especially those close to the boy known as Shion.

There were several nights where Nezumi dreamed of Shion waking up with that stupid smile that he was so fond of. He would wake only to find that Shion had not budged an inch. Nezumi was starting to get concerned.

"Cheep Cheep!"

Nezumi looked down to see one of his mice perched on his lap.

"Cravat!"

Nezumi recognized the little mouse as "Cravat" the little brown mouse that Shion had named after the color of a pastry he was real fond of. Nezumi figured it must have been a pastry his mom made constantly in her bakery in Old Town.

He smiled and stroked the little mouse's head.

"Where have you been?"

"Cheep!"

Nezumi noticed there was a note in the little mouse's mouth. He unrolled the note.

Nezumi, how are you two? I heard what happened. Please be careful. Love you both. Come home soon. -Karan

It was a simple message but somehow it gave Nezumi a warm feeling.

"Home" Nezumi repeated the words several times. It no longer felt like a foreign word to him.

"Cheep!" Cravat squeaked. The little brown mouse was now on the bed on top of the still sleeping Shion.

"You want him to wake up also, huh?" Nezumi whispered.

"Cheep!" the mouse squeaked in agreement.

Nezumi was starting to lose track of time, not that it really mattered. At this point there was only one thing on his mind, Shion.

He continued to watched Shion as he slept. At least it looked like he was having a peaceful dream. Nezumi wondered how that was possible for someone with multiple personalities. It seemed to him that that would be a nightmare for anyone. How does one sleep when they constantly have the fear of losing himself? He unintentionally tightened his grip on Shion's hand.

Nezumi who was caught in his thoughts almost missed the small movement he felt under his hand.

"Nezu-mi..you're hurting my hand." a voice mumbled.

Nezumi thought for a second he was imagining things but when he looked over he was shocked to see a very groggy looking teen with a scowl on his face.

Shion was finally awake after three days.

He looked kinda ragged probably from oversleeping.

"Nezumi can you let go-" Shion was cut off in mid sentence by Nezumi who embraced him with such force that it seemed like Shion would break like a twig.

"Nezumi! I can't breathe!" Shion huffed feeling like all the air was forced out of him.

The other boy loosened his grip a little to allow Shion to breathe but did not move from his position.

"Nezumi? What's wrong?" Shion asked. He could feel Nezumi shaking in his arms and warm tears on his shoulder.

"Nezumi?"

The other boy didn't say a word just continued to hold Shion like he was a lifeline.

Shion pushed Nezumi back a bit so that he could see the other boy's face.

"Nezumi, I'm sorry. Did I do something wrong?" Shion wiped the tears from Nezumi's face with the palm of his hand.

Shion hated seeing Nezumi cry. The few times that he ever saw him cry he felt like a part of himself died, it was like seeing an angel cry. Shion felt almost as if all time had stopped at that moment. As if the world had stopped turning and time just froze. He was sure that if the heavens could weep they would. It devastated Shion.

"Please don't cry." Shion whispered. Right now his heart was shattering into millions of pieces.

"I'm sorry." Shion felt tears forming at the corners of his eyes.

"Idiot, why are you apologizing?"

Tears were still falling freely.

Shion leaned forward and kissed Nezumi's forehead.

"I thought you weren't going to wake up." Nezumi sobbed.

Shion was shocked.

"Did something happen, I'm sorry Nezumi...I can't remember." Shion pulled away from Nezumi. "I'm sorry if I've hurt you."

Nezumi wiped the remaining tears from his face.

"Why-" Nezumi began. "Why didn't you tell me!"

"Huh?" Shion seemed confused.

"Why didn't you tell me the truth! Tell me why I had to hear about it from someone else!" Nezumi started to get irritated and distraught.

"Nezumi what are you-" Shion was cut off.

"I'm talking about Mamoru!"

It suddenly made sense to Shion.

"Oh, so you know." Shion lowered his head hiding his face.

"Of course I do!" Nezumi yelled.

Nezumi didn't need to do a whole lot of explaining for Shion to piece together what had happened.

"I didn't want you to know. I wanted to pretend I was normal."

"What?" Nezumi seemed to calm down a bit.

"I wanted to be normal, but that will never be possible for someone with two personalities." Shion said, fidgeting with the comforter."

"Was it because of what happened four years ago?" Nezumi asked in a normal tone of voice.

Shion just shook his head.

"No Nezumi, I've had this problem all my life. Since my dad left in fact." he stated.

"Wha-"

Shion began to explain everything to Nezumi

"Mom was kinda depressed after my dad left shortly after I was born. I had no brothers or sisters to talk to so I grew up a very lonely child. I started to create this other personality in order to cope with the loneliness. I started talking to myself constantly like there was another person there when it was only me. I named the other me "Mamoru" because he kind of felt like a protector to me.

It wasn't until later that I realized that the other personality was not fake and I did in fact have a second personality. The doctor said that it was possible that I had DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder). To be honest though there was no way for them to tell for sure, since I was still just a child they figured I had made it up"

Nezumi stayed completely quiet as he listened.

"Still I knew I was different so I had to try to hide that fact the best I could. I tried to keep my mind off of it so I purposely found things to occupy my time and it seemed to work for awhile. When I was accepted into the gifted curriculum and when I became friends with Safu I was able to push my "other self" far back so I could be normal. And that's how I lived my life."

Nezumi was finally starting to understand everything. It became so much clearer to him now.

"So then when you shot that man to protect me-" Nezumi began.

"Yes." Shion quickly answered. "That was my protector 'Mamoru' that you saw."

"He only shows up when I'm in danger or when I'm emotionally distressed." Shion explained.

"It's taken me a long time to realize that and sometimes I tend to forget that and I let my emotions get the best of me."

"I see. It makes sense now."

"But you know-" Shion began.

"I don't hate 'him' at all for it. After all he is me. Mamoru has helped me in some pretty dire situations. He also saved a person that means the world to me." Shion gave a small smile under his breath.

Nezumi was absolutely shocked. Here in front of him was a person born with two personalities who had learned to cope with his "condition" by accepting his other half. In all honesty Nezumi had a newfound respect for Shion.

"Nezumi, can I make a request?"

"Huh?" Nezumi was a little confused.

"If you see Mamoru again, will you try to be friends with him. Rikiga and Inukashi don't like him at all, but they don't understand him the way I do. I really wish they would accept him as I have." Shion stated.

Now Nezumi was incredibly shocked. It was insane to find out that his best friend had two personalities but now this same friend was asking him to accept this other personality as if it was another completely different human being.

Shion gave Nezumi a strange look. It was obvious to Nezumi that Shion even realized that he was making a ridiculous request.

Nezumi sighed and ruffled Shion's hair.

"Idiot. If he's supposed to be you, that would make us friends already right?"

Shion didn't say anything. He thought about it for a second then laughed.

"I guess you're right."

"Cheep!"

"Cravat!" Shion yelled excitedly.

"I think he agrees too." Nezumi snickered.

Shion held the little mouse up to his face and the little mouse gave him a small kiss on the nose.

Shion laughed.

Thank God. Nezumi told himself. He looks a lot better and maybe even happier?

Nezumi thought it must have been a relief to let it all out after all these years.

It reminded him of the old Shion he used to know. The Shion that used to be so honest with his feelings and wasn't afraid to let you know when he did not agree with something.

But Nezumi had to say he was starting to love this Shion just as much maybe more. He felt somehow like he had become closer than he was four years ago. That made him happy.

Nezumi chuckled under his breath

"What is it Nezumi?" Shion asked innocently

"Oh, nothing." Nezumi stated.

Shion didn't say a word just sat quietly smiling at the small mouse that was squeaking happily in front of him.

"Oh I just got an idea." Nezumi said suddenly remembering something.

"Huh?"

"Tomorrow, no ifs ands or buts, whether it's raining or sunny we are going out tomorrow. What do you think?"

Shion looked like a child who had just discovered what chocolate was. His face beamed.

"Sure." Shion smiled.

"Well then, that settles it. For now you should just take it easy okay?"

"What? I've been asleep for how long-"

"Three days." Nezumi cut in.

"Whatever, I highly doubt I need to take it easy."

"Well then do you want to head into town with me then? there is something I want to pick up."

"I'll go."

It didn't take long for Shion to get ready and soon the two were on their way into town.

They walked through the marketplace stopping from time to time at some of the stalls to pick up a few necessities that Nezumi needed. As they were walking Shion came across a small pawn shop selling some nice antiques. A small stall with all different kinds of interesting little jars and a small table with some necklaces displayed out in the open.

Shion came across one necklace with a simple yet odd shape to it. It was bizarre yet somehow very beautiful. The crimson color somehow made it stand out. Shion asked the shopkeeper about the necklace and when he heard the meaning of the symbol Shion smiled. He bought the necklace. and placed the box containing the necklace in his pocket.

"That person must be someone very special to you." The shopkeeper said. It was an elderly lady with a kind of wrinkly face but somehow she came off as being very nice.

Shion smiled.

"Yes."

"Take care of yourself young man." The woman said.

Shion bowed to the woman before leaving.

Nezumi called for Shion just as he had exited the shop.

"What were you doing over there?" Nezumi asked.

"Oh, nothing." Shion smiled fidgeting with the box in his pocket.

It's a present for Nezumi.

Something special for you, but you won't get to see it until tomorrow.

This is payback for not telling me what you were laughing about earlier.

Shion just walked silently beside Nezumi as he thought all about what tomorrow would bring.

End of chapter 9 WOOOOOOOOOOOOO SOMEONE GIVE ME BUTTER 'CAUSE I'M ON A ROLL LOL!

JKJK! anyway I hope you all enjoyed it. I might take a small break or not who knows. We'll see how it works out. Thanks for reading. Let me know what you think.

Thanks! C U soon.