The next two weeks were rough for me. I couldn't stop thinking about her. I sent flowers to her anonymously, after spending far too long picking what I thought she'd like. I cared so much and I wasn't sure why.

Maybe it was because it happened on my property? Or maybe I selfishly liked the pretty noodle delivery girl.

I liked Pucca. Outside of me messing with Garu, she was actually always who was the nicest too me. She never gave me that side eye when I walked into the Gohrong that everyone else did. I always figured it was because she didn't see me as a threat. Just a guy that liked to bug her not-boyfriend.

I never understood that. Obviously, Garu didn't have to feel that way about her, but I couldn't understand how he didn't. This girl was perfect for him in nearly every way. Strong, independent, caring, supportive, pretty… She seemed like a damn perfect woman for him. Maybe he had feeling for someone else. Or maybe he just wasn't a relationship kind of guy, but I would be lying if I said I wasn't jealous of him.

Everyone liked Garu. Even I don't hate the guy. How could you? He was perfect, and humble about it. I think that's what always annoyed me about him. He was what I wanted to be. Perfect without trying. I tried to be perfect. But all that got me was being the village outcast who lives in the woods.

I leaned back into my couch. The renovations were finally done. No ninjas around. Just quiet. It wasn't perfect, but at least it didn't look like a commune anymore. It was clean. It looked like a house. And I loved the newfound quiet. I could even hear the rain falling outside. I almost missed the other ninjas. They were enjoying their life in their new place, though. The true never-ending frat party of their dreams.

I was started out of my thoughts by a knock at my door. I looked over at my clock. It was almost 10pm. "Who'd be here this late?" I thought to myself. I assumed it was one of the ninjas, needing help with some weird task he didn't know how to do.

I sighed and stood up, brushing the wrinkles out of my t-shirt as I walked over to the door. I could not have guessed who I'd find standing at my door.

It was Pucca. Standing in the rain. Crutches under her arms. How had she managed to get all the way here on crutches? In the RAIN?

"Hi." She said, a slight embarrassment to her tone. I forgot how cute her voice was. She didn't talk much around people she wasn't super close to.

"I… uh… Hi… Pucca." I managed. I really wasn't expecting to be seeing her around town yet, not to mention having her show up at my front door. I then remembered that it was raining, and I was just letting this girl stand outside. "Come in, it's raining." I'm pretty sure she knew that.

She smiled. "Thanks, I noticed."

Yep. She knew that, alright. Smooth, Tobe. Smooth.

As she crutched her way in, I closed the door behind her. "I hate to sound rude, but…are you okay? What are you doing here?"

"I just… oh wow…" she paused, looking around my living room. "Tobe, this looks amazing." She smiled again, laughing a little to herself. "Much less evil."

Somehow the sound of her little laugh made me feel more okay than I had since I found her. I smirked a little. "Yeah… I figured it was time." This was the most Pucca had spoken to me in basically ever. It made me feel really warm inside.

I took a moment to really absorb what Pucca looked like in this moment. This wasn't what I expected in my head when I imaged her saying a full sentence to me. Her hair was down, soaking wet. She had on a red sweatshirt and black leggings. Very Pucca casual. But you could still see the cuts on her face and hands. I had a feeling she wasn't really supposed to be out and about yet.

"Pucca, please, sit down. You look exhausted…" I told her as I walked over to a cabinet by my bathroom and pulled out the fluffiest towel I owned, and brought it over to her.

"Thanks, Tobe." She smiled as she dried herself off a little bit. "For everything."

I sat down about two feet away from her. "I uh…It's no problem, I have plenty of towels, I-"

"You know that's not what I meant, Tobe." She looked me dead in the eye.

"I…don't think I've ever heard you say my name before." I smiled and looked down at the floor.

"Well, the guy that literally pulled me out of a fire deserves to have his name said." She responded.

"Pucca… How… How did you know about…"

"You're really bad at covering your tracks." She laughed. "It was just what bits of the story people told me. Ching said you said there was a fire. Dada said you were with him when he found out. And your guess happened to be 'bike accident'."

"Oh."

She smiled. "Plus…" she took a bag off of her back, and reached into it, and pulled out my jacket. "I know this is yours." I really did not expect her to recognize it. She held it close to her. "It's really comfortable."

"Keep it, it's a little small on me, anyway." That was a lie, it was actually probably my favorite. It was a dark navy color zip-up hoodie. Not exactly fashionable, but I bet she looked cute in it.

She looked a little excited. "Are you sure?" I nodded and we both kinda smiled at each other.

"Hey, I know this is a weird question…" I started. "Why is your hair down? Don't get me wrong, it looks really cute, but I'm so used to your hair being in buns." She blushed a little, which made my face feel a little warm.

"It hurts to raise my arms that high." She frowned. "Pretty much everything hurts, actually." She half smiled. "In fact… help me get this sweater off."

I did not know how to react to that. Not a request I'd ever received.

"I have a shirt under it, I just want you to see." She reassured.

I reluctantly scooted next to her and helped her. Her face clearly pained as we slowly pulled it off. She had a damp tank top underneath, which let me see more of her skin. It was heavily bruised. Not too many burns, but it looked extremely painful.

"Pucca…I…"

"I could've died. But I didn't." She put her hand on top of mine. "Because of you."

I could feel my whole body getting warm, even though her hand was so cold.

"I won't tell anyone it was you if you don't want me too. But, know that I know. And I could not be any more grateful."

I was so flustered, I didn't know what to say to her. "You're freezing, would you let me get you something dry to wear?" I said, as I stood up, gesturing towards where I kept my clothes, knowing full well she didn't know that.

She smiled in a way that felt really familiar to me. "I'd like that…"

I quickly got up and grabbed her the smallest t-shirt I could find, which was still a mens large. It was dark gray, and really soft. This would work.

I brought it out to her. She was sitting there drying her hair with the towel. She took it graciously, and I helped her over to my bathroom to change.

I went back over to the couch while I waited for her. But before I sat down, I grabbed the warmest, fluffiest blanket I could and put it on a drier part of the couch for her.

I still couldn't believe that Pucca actually talked to me. I didn't want it to be under this circumstance, but still. Her voice was beautiful. Soft. Warm. Seeing her hurt like that though… I felt almost guilty. Like it was my fault.

I heard the door open, and she came out in just that t-shirt, and my jacket. The shirt fit her like a shorter dress, so she'd taken her wet leggings off, as well. I couldn't help but notice how pretty she still was.

She made her way back to the couch. I pointed her towards the blanket. She sat down, and wrapped herself up in it pretty quickly and sat down right next to me, balancing her crutches at the other end of the couch.

"I'm sorry to come unannounced like this. I just… I really wanted to see you. It felt right."

"Pucca… I'm just glad you're okay…" I told her. "But don't walk all the way out here in the rain again! At least not until you can walk with an umbrella again."

She leaned her head against my shoulder. "I guess you'll just have to come see me in town then, huh…"

I looked down at her, and almost instinctually wrapped my arm around her. She probably hated that.

"I know you're not the guy you used to be. I've always known that. But I do appreciate the living proof." I heard her laugh a little. "I wouldn't say you've changed though."

"What's that supposed to mean?!" I laughed.

"You're still goofy. Still trying to be the best. The only thing I can see is different is that you're not trying to impress, or destroy, anyone anymore."

"You haven't changed either, Pucca." I smiled. "And never do."