Author's Note: Woo, I'm back. The move went without a hitch (except the whole parents lying to me about going home a day early bit), and Rosamond's all moved into the Retirement home. Woman's not our problem anymore, we're all rather delighted.

I celebrated by telling my father that I was getting the rest of my ear piercings, it just depended on where, at home or at school. He said to do it at home, so two hours after we got home, I went out and did it. Before I had only one in each ear, now I have four in each. Like Farfarello. They make me feel pretty. June's going to hate them, probably spew more nonsense about how so many holes will scare off possible suitors and make me unmarriable.

She shouldn't say things without thinking; everyone knows I'll never get married.

About the chapter, it felt like a stretch, but eh. Lazy. Moving on…Please thank my beta for checking after me for major errors.

10

Everything I owned fit into one suitcase, the rest I could wear. A few extra shirts, other things I pulled out of the laundry, my favorite teacup. I didn't have much of a plan beyond getting to Sanzo's place. He'd let me stay there until I had enough money for my own place, perhaps enough to leave town. There wasn't much that tied me to this place anyway, not anymore.

I'd never had much, not much more than what I wore. The only time I really saw prosperity was with Kanan, and I was still teaching. We had rented a house in town, earned enough to be comfortable, to think of savings and children. It was the first time in my life I'd had enough money to actually think into a future that wasn't directed on finding more to survive. Kanan had allowed that.

I had, stupidly, begun to believe that I wouldn't have to worry so much about that with Gojyo, that we could just live some semblance of a peaceful life. It seems I wasn't destined for that. I figured my problem was that I depended too much on other people for my happiness.

I wrapped my teacup in a shirt and clipped my suitcase shut, then headed for the door, pausing once to peruse the bookshelf. There was nothing there I wanted. There was nothing from here that I wanted, nothing that might remind me. Vagabonds didn't have memories.

It started raining the moment I pulled the front door closed, soaking through my jacket and running down my face.

"I wonder if it'll rain until I leave?" I fancied that the town was crying for my goodbye, a stupid idea. I sighed down at the muddy street, the one Gojyo had found me dying in, the gutter he'd picked me out of, like someone's lost dog. My breath hitched and I glared at the sky.

There was no way I could leave. Regardless of how much of an ass he'd become, I wasn't doing anything more than running away. And I'd miss it here, I'd miss him. I already missed him and I wasn't five feet from the front door. This place was my home now, and he needed my help to restore it back to the way it was.

"Fine," I breathed, rubbing my eyes under my glasses. "To hell with it."

Fin Chapter 10

Please Review

To My Readers:

damm416: As a matter of fact…Nah. Thanks for reviewing, I'm glad you like this story so much, but make sure not to trip over anything on your run, ok? Wouldn't want you getting hurt on account of me.

fullmetalguitar: Well, if you've read the manga, you know he gets pretty beat up anyway. Just not from Hakkai. Or for being a bastard. Am I giving away too much of the story? Anyway, good to hear from you again.

kls12: Yeah, I'm a huge Hakkai/Gojyo fan too. They're just so sweet together, really perfect in the way they aren't.

x-aiden-x: You love them.