Mmmmmmkay, we're hitting milestones all over the place here, 50 reviews and 10th chapter *gasp*
well, anyway, thanks for all the reviews and encouragements you have left me.
it's been a fun passed 14 days. See you all next chapter ;D

- Laced with Cyanide

10

Learning From the Past

Fuu

It was getting dark. The sun no longer hung in the sky; instead the moon lingered there, staring at me, taunting me with the truth.

Mugen hadn't returned.

I sat silently on my knees in my room, my wound still hurt but was healing fast. Sora was in the next room, hitting Jin with his small wooden sword playfully. The sight would have made me smile, the sight of Mugen's nature within him had always given me a secret pleasure, but tonight my heart was too heavy with grief. I heard the door slide open and I looked up, my face blank and emotionless. A woman stood in the doorway, a woman whose face I recognised immediately.

Shino.

The tall, elegant woman looked at me; her face was set into an expression that made me cringe. Pity. I crooked my neck, offering a small bow out of courtesy; she did so in return and entered the room, sliding the rice paper door closed behind her. She sat down on her knees in front of me; her face was filled with concern,

"Fuu…" she began, her voice carrying everything she wanted to say,

"I'm fine," I offered, my need for solitude strong. I would give anything to be left with my own thoughts for just an hour,

'We both know that you're not," she said, speaking the abrupt truth. I looked away, unable to meet this elegant woman's gaze.

I stared at the floor to the side of me as I felt her take my hand. I looked up, shocked by this contact,

"Fuu, I can't imagine how you're feeling"

"It's nothing"

"You're a single mother whose father has ran away"

"No…" I mumbled, feeling frustrated,

"Fuu, he's-"

"No!" I said in a loud whisper, felling angered by this truth, "He wouldn't do that, Mugen is a mean, jerk of a man, he lacks any sense of hygiene and has no morals, you can tell me that, I already know that…but…he wouldn't…he wouldn't abandon me…ever" tears began to roll down my face, I looked away, unable to meet Shino's gaze. I believed each word that left my moth, yet, there was a small part of my heart that had just given up. I could feel it growing.

"Fuu…" she said again, pulling me towards her. This comfort only succeeded in making my tears stronger. I heard the door open again.

The door opened to show Sora who pushed the door closed again with some difficulty. I pulled away from Shino, whose eyes held so much sympathy that it hurt. Sora ran into my arms, I hugged him, forcing my tears to stop,

"When's he coming home mama?" he said, his voice so innocent, a tone that I hadn't heard in his voice since he had began to talk. I only smiled and held him tighter.

When was he coming back?

.xXx.

I slept alone; Sora had opted for a spot near the front door where he could wait for his no good father, though whether he had come to terms with that fact was yet to be established. I had smiled at that. I had been so surprised when I had awoken earlier today, the relationship he had with Mugen was beautiful, though I hadn't seen Mugen react to it as I had hoped, I knew that something must have happened between them, Mugen had to have been kind to him at some point for such a need for him to have grown within Sora.

I lay on my back, staring at the roof. Jin and Shino had decided to stay a while longer; they had been looking for a place to settle down for a while now, they wanted a rest and Jin was concerned for me, he felt the need to help out, and he had. He had caught a few fish this afternoon for the family, a gift he apparently acquired over the past four years, and Shino had cooked it. She had revealed herself to be an excellent cook; it had made me glad knowing that Jin was in good hands.

There was a noise, my eyes flew open. I sat up; no one else seemed to have stirred which I found odd. Jin must have gotten careless these passed years in addition to learning how to catch fish. I slid the rice paper door to my room open. There, in front of me was a silhouette, tall and scruffy. I felt the tears well up as I stared at him, he walked in, shoving me to the side, closing the door behind him. He looked at me. I could see the frightened look in his eyes as he eyed me over.

I touched his arm and he flinched. Then, looking me up and down again his face seemed to hold some recognition of who I was. He grabbed my arm, yanking me towards him. I could smell the Saki on his breath, just as Kirai's always had, but, somehow, this was different, this was Mugen, he would never hurt me. I pulled away, not wishing to repeat the event of four years before and walked back over to my futon, curling up into it.

What I didn't expect was for him to join me.

Though this time it was different, he kissed the nape of my neck and lay down, his front facing my back. His body curved around mine and within moments he had passed out behind me, his lips still on my neck. I too fell asleep, the warmth and contentment his body radiated comforting me. This was how I wanted it to be.

This was how it was supposed to be.

Mugen

Stupid girl, I thought to myself, what the fuck is she doing teasing me like this, I moved, getting comfortable, feeling the small curve of her body against mine. It seemed to fit perfectly. I hadn't forgotten any of my previous woes, if anything; it only made me more confident in confronting them.

Stupid alcohol wasn't working.

Oh snap, bossy benchmark time!
55 Reviews please =D