10. Reasons...
Tomoe sighed out that night and carried a large box with him as Nanami held two large bags... Not only had Nanami stayed later then intended but they also had dinner together, it had been years since that happened.. And althougth she spoke nicely to his parents and all he stayed quiet and ignored any unwanted conversation.
He didnt even know why he had allowed the girl inside to begin with, She was such a dimwitted person, He coudln't remember what drove them to be friends before... not that he cared in the least.
But right now they were walking to her house, his converse was slightly wet from several puddles he stepped in and since Nanami only had her school shoes the nicely made things didn't let any water in. He sighed out weakly, he was cold and his hair, even though it had dried was slightly damp once again.
Tomoe mumbled something, still annoyed by everything as they walked. His head hurt and when they finally made it to Nanami's house.. well.. it looked worse then it had before. He arched his brow slightly.
He couldn't remeber really ever going to Nanami's house when he ws younger, but it had not always looked like this, had it? He wasn't sure and his mind trailed off before the girl waved him over and then opened the door.
There was harly a lock on it and that surprised him given the bad neighborhood.. He grunted and winced from the weight of the food on the inside.. He didn't get it but apparently her mother was having a hard time at work.. so his mother offered food for them.
He sighed out weakly from this, Not only did he have to walk her home like the way he was raised but he also had to escort her inside. He didn't like this and wished be could leave, he felt like he could pick up a disease any minute now and that itself was a gross thought for him.
The fox sighed out weakly and bit his lip as Nanami opened the door and ushered him in, Once in he arched his brow as he saw Gwen running back and froth with Buckets, trying her best to cover some holes in the roof to stop some leaks... He blinked.. and then paused as he looked around.
" Ah! Nanami!" She cried out weakly and then pouted, " Can you go outback and get the large basin?" She whined out and Tomoe blinked slightly.. A basin!? That much water!? He paled slightly but bit his lip as she then lookd at him and smiled weakly,
" Ah Tomoe over here.. sorry about that sweetie.' She smiled and suddenly helped him with some of the things.. the kitchens seemed to be falling apart too, and as he helped put some cans away he noticed something...
They didn't have any food..
Tomoe paused blankly as his mind went back to Nanami not bringing anything for two days straight and his eyes went wide in shock. Could of it been possible that.. they didn't have any food? He paused at this.
Ever since he had known Nanami she seemed tired and hungry, but surely not... Surely she had not lived here in this place for that long. He paused blankly and then sighed out, his head hurt but he tried to ignore it as he continued to help.
When Nanami left he himself had been annoyed but hurt more so then Mizuki and Kurama had been, its not like he was attached to her.. not at all.. But seeing her walk away with some unknown woman was a harsh thing for a child to see. Sure he was just beginning his teenage years then, but after that everything went downhill.. His hand paused slightly on a can but he pulled it back and continued to help.
When Nanami left he ignored his own feelings and just decided to go on and be himself.. that was he truly wanted, but then again people didn't like who he was or what he had to offer.
Tomoe sighed out blankly and paused as he kept helping, only he looked at Gwen and arched his brow slightly.. Should he pry for something like this? Something as serious as a delapidated house and harsh living envirements?
He paused but slightly bit his lip,
" How long have you been struggling?" he muttered but wasn't expecting an answer since he said it so quietly but Gwen blinked and then softly shrugged gently to herself,
" For a while..' She whispered gently, " Maybe even since Nanami was a little girl.' She smiled slightly and Tomoe felt his mind go back to when she left... She lived liek this for a while?
Well no wonder she wanted to go to her aunts... Not only was it full of money and nice things, but it was full of food and sweet things. No wonder she came over alot to his house and bugged him.
No wonder..
But then again, had sheleft because of all of this? Was that his answer to this big puzzle? he didn't know and he wasn't sure he cared... If he had not helped to day he would of never known, and he wasn't sure if he should of known their buisness.
But one thing was for sure.
Nanami was good at hiding things like this, and he wasn't expecting the outcome of his visit. He arched his brow but stayed silent as he looked at Gwen who was humming slightly... she was young but sadly the woman was shaking weakly from the lack of food..
He didn't get it, why did no one ever tell them? Was it shame? Or was Nanami told not to bother anyone? He wasn't sure... Sure if this was why she left he'd understand, but why not tell him that was why she left the area?
Earlier he was annoyed by Nanami, pissed off and angery towards her, and maybe h was still that way to come extent; but that was soely because of what had happened to him when he was left alone. If Nanami had mearly opened her mouth they would of helped and she would not of had to move away fro so long..
But then again maybe that was just his wishful thinking. He wasn't sure but all he could picture was her sitting here and him... Him being in that god aweful shool with no way to get out... no way to get past the choking pain of the past.
But he didn't know Nanami was in this sort of position.'
Not that he cared...
Tomoe sighed out weakly and huffed as he placed the last can down and was thanked by Gwen... But he wasn't trly there.. he wasnted out of this place right away. He truly did. He was annoyed at Nanami.. and maybe he let her in because of his panic attack, but right now seeing hwo she lived was repulsive...
No he was sick with her, he wasn't that bad; But... Just seeing this left him having bad memories. Nanami Momozono used to be his best friend until she left.. then he went throgh hell. He went through hell alone. And Now Nanami was going through hell but his family was helping.
He didn't know what to think..
He didn't know if he cared.'
Tomoe blankly went home and sighed out blankly, He was tired and his head hurt. His arms felt like noodles... NOODLes from carrying those heavy boxes of food... But once Gwen saw a small chicken she started crying and latched on to him like a mad woman...
And his stomach turned from that moment.
He didn't know they had it that hard and just looking at Nanami and her cheerfu attitude aggervated him. How could she be so happy when he was so not? He huffed out slightly and placed his jacket down before seeing his mother sitting on the couch and smiling softly. She looked up but waved him over, having him sit by her and lean his head on her shoulder.'
She smiled slighty.. She had to admit she was shocked to See Tomeo and Nanami...alone... wearing clothes like that and being wet in her living room.. but once it was explained she relaxed. She also had to relax when she saw them there..not fighting and tearing at each other like meat.
She thought she would have to get them together but right now at the moment she realized she didn't have to worry about it. It surprised her but Tomoe was quiet once again leaving her to sigh out gently and then stroked his head.
Lately he had been more.. talkative, and she liked that.
" How was the walk over?" She whispered as he scoffed gently,
" Noisy..' he whisepred making her chuckle.. Ah.. That was her boy. She kissed his head and then sighed out gently, a soft smile pulled on her lips and she softly hummed,
" So what did you and Nanami talk about wen you guys were here?" She whispered softly making the teen pause.. only he mumbled something and slightly looked away making her pause..okay... he was ALREADY hiding things from her? She paused bluntly but slowly let herself cam down and let him have this one.. After all...Unlike all the teens out there Tomoe hardly ever tried to keep things to himself..
So She msiled playfully,
" Was it boy girl stuff?" She smirked as he suddenly gaged,
" With Nanami? Never..' he muttered bluntly making her grin,
" Ah.. But you two aren't little children anymore; You went through puberty and even though your fangs haven't come yet-
" Mum!" he defended and slightly looked away, his face tinted pink making her smirk slightly.
" Oh please... I might have to watch you two..' She smirked ever so slightly, " When you DO start your full moon weeks I might have to tie you down when she flashes those legs of hers.' She smiled and poked him before Tomoe sent her a , 'Kill me now' Look.
" I have no interest in her.. Shes a human and shes stupid.' he huffed out and slightly looked away blankly. He didn't see her like that.. who would? The stupid flastchested girl that used to bring him pine cones and other crap like that... that stupid girl that wore socks and slightly had to pull them up since they fell down so much.
She was a disater waiting to happen...
And she wasn't going to his disater... No. He was keeping his teeth and hands to himself. She was just childish Nanami Momozono.. and nothing could change his outlook on that.. But he did have a small change from her mothers attitude.
Maybe Nanami left becase they were so bad off... that didn't explain why they didn't ask for help.. But then again. Nanami was independant.. and so was her mother. Living with someone would mean depending on others.
And Nanami's dad was one that told them off on that. He left a while ago, he had heard. The man, he remembered would drop Nanami off.. smelling like alcohol and looking ragged.. while Nanami would be cheerful and sweet towards him. Tomoe wasn't sure if he liked him... he really didn't know but as they got older Nanami's personailty towards the man changed from admiration to, Why can't you be more resonsible?'
He rememebered him trying to give him alcohol for one of his birthdays... that sparked an argument between parents. Nanami would just look at the bottle and gag... Tomoe often wondered if she ever tried it... did he truly want to know now?
Not really...
Normal Nanami was scary enough, A drunk one? He wasn't sure what to think.'
But he did notice that Nanami had come from a poor family with a dead beat father.. Unlike his own family who had enough money to even have a retirement fund. He sighed out blankly and let his mother stroke his head slightly.
He didn't get Nanami Momozono...
He let her back in, but she proving to be more trouble then he needed; what was he going to do? He didn't know.. and neither did he want to know to much of anything, all he knew was he would have to deal with her at school... and that enough to make anyone scream.'