So this is a slower, shorter chapter.

This is just a bridge so I can get things going again ;)

Thanks for all your feedback :)

Finally our summer was officially starting, and if we were lucky, it would be completely free of a certain someone.

As we reheated more of the pasta for dinner, I realised I'd have to tell my social worker about this to see if and how my situation might change as a result of this.

I mentioned this to Shizuru.

"I hope we're going to live together at university".

"Like I'd be able to live with anyone else".

"I want to call my mother at some point".

"Why?"

"Nosy. I'm going to ask her if she's okay for me to buy a small flat for the two of us so you don't have to worry about rent and I can cover bills too".

"Shizuru no. I won't let you take on everything. I can't afford to help buy the place but either we split bills or I'll live on the street".

"That's not fair! You have it hard enough already".

"I want to remain equal to you. I can't live together knowing that I'm relying entirely on you. That's not fair".

Shizuru pouted, clearly out of responses to my guilt trip.

I smiled though.

"Don't look so glum. We're going to the same university and we're going to be living together. That must be something to be happy about, right?"

Her pout slowly turned to a massive smile as she clocked in on reality.

She pulled me down to her for a kiss that I gladly returned.

But I had to pull back again to avoid a repeat of this morning as she once again started to deepen it.

"Relax, we have all summer together, and then all of uni, and if you're not sick of me by then, the rest of our lives. You don't need to rush anything with me as I promise I won't be going anywhere".

We both smiled again as we turned to watch the darkening city.

By the time the city had completely come to life in the darkness, I felt Shizuru start to relax against me.

I recognised the signs of her dropping of to sleep and nudged her, asking if she was up for walking back to the bedroom.

All I got in response was a muffled protest so I knew the answer was no.

I gently detangled myself from her arms and moved to pick her up.

Once again, her size betrayed her.

She was heavier than she looked because of all her hidden muscles. I mean, I had them and you could see them all. Not that my lack of decent food for near on 13 years helped mask them. I had no fat to hide the tones but Shizuru was neither fat nor muscular which just confused me.

I was jealous to be honest, not that I'd ever tell her.

People could tell with a glance that I had grown up around a rough background and that probably didn't help my already appalling social skills.

As I set her down, I tried to shake her back awake enough to let her get into pyjamas.

She swatted my hand away before snuggling down into the pillow.

I sighed as I gently helped her out of the jeans so I could also remove the splint support, leaving her ankle free tonight to help it heal faster.

I didn't fell brave enough to help her out on the top so I left it, changing quickly myself before settling in beside her.

She snuggled up against me as she always did, as if she had some sixth sense for my presence beside her when she was asleep.

I smiled to myself in the darkness as I found sleep wasn't quite ready to claim me.

I watched Shizuru's face, peaceful and relaxed, content beside me.

I could still hardly believe I had been this fortunate.

That Shizuru was mine, and I was hers.

I wondered what might have happened if I hadn't given her that tour the first day.

If she had met Tomoe before me.

I shuddered at those thoughts and pushed them away.

We were together here, now.

I gently kissed Shizuru on the forehead.

She smiled and snuggled closer still.

I still didn't know how she managed to do that without causing us to fuse and merge together into one.

Just lying next to her, listening to her breathing in the dark, started to lull me to sleep.

I let my eyes close, let the darkness take over as I drifted off to sleep with a smile.