Sorry for the delay in the story. I was stuck for a while on what to do next. I was also trying to finish other stories so I could devote more time to this one. Please let me know if I'm doing a good job by reviewing. Also, the glossary is at the bottom of the page.

Thank you,

Samanda

Disclaimer: I do not own Sorcerer Hunters or any of it's characters.

Can A Broken Heart Mend?

Chapter Five

Tira's POV:

The sun was what woke me in the morning. I turned onto my side and opened my eyes sleepily. The sight that greeted me made me smile a little. I stayed still for a moment to memorize the picture.

Marron lay on his back, still asleep. The window was behind him and the sun silhouetted him in gold. His beautiful dark hair was tousled and lay over everything. His face relaxed and he didn't seem so cold as he lay sleeping. One arm was flung up by his head but the other was relaxed at his side. The picture he presented me with was breathtaking. He looked both innocent and sensual, I thought as my heart skipped a beat.

He made a soft sighing sound and turned on his side to face me. My heart beat faster at the sound he had made but quieted when it became clear he wasn't going to wake. I left the bed quietly. Marron stirred but didn't wake, thank goodness.

At that moment nothing mattered but getting away. I went through the door to my own room and shut it. I leaned against it, feeling weak for just a second, and wondered what the hell was wrong with me. For a few seconds there all that was in my mind was kissing Marron.

"It was nothing," I told myself fiercely over and over. "It was nothing."

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Marron's POV:

I awoke as I always did. As soon as I opened my eyes I was alert and awake. I was laying on my side facing towards the door. I stretched trying to get a kink out of my back. There was nothing unusual about this morning or so it seemed. That is until I remembered Tira having a nightmare and then sleeping in my bed.

Tira was gone. But I wasn't concerned. She was always the early riser and had probably just left to get breakfast. I turned onto my back and thought about Tira. How our relationship had changed over the years.

Tira had always had a special place in my heart. We were the same age and both had overprotective older siblings that were determined (we thought when we were young) to see that we didn't have any fun. Both of us were a little more sensitive than normal kids our age.

As we grew up it only seemed natural to spend all our free time together. We were the best of friends even though Carrot and Chocolate teased us unmercifully like older siblings do. We knew each other inside and out. She kept the bullies away from me as much as she could. She always did have fists of iron.

But puberty changed things. Eleven years old was when our sleep overs ended as well as our friendship. Well no, I shouldn't say that. We were still friends but the closeness had ended. She worked hard at pushing me away and she succeeded mostly.

It was my fault, I know. Before that day I had never been intentionally cruel to her. Oh, I had been cruel to her before but that was because I was a child. I thought about only what I wanted and said things that I didn't understand could hurt her. The difference was that this time I knew that the words I spoke would hurt her but I did it anyways.

As soon as I said it I wished I could take it back. I stuttered and reached a hand out to her but she ignored it and left to nurse her wounds alone. I let her go because I didn't know how to fix it. And after that nothing was the same anymore.

When I tried to apologize for what I said, she said nothing then turned and walked away. I was hurt but figured that eventually she would come back and talk to me about it. But she never did.

Even though we shared the same house she acted like a stranger. After a long time we regained some of the closeness we had lost. But she was never the same. She lost some of her warmth and her trust in people.

After years of analyzing my feelings of hurt and self-dislike I finally understood why I felt like that. Tira and I were so close as children that when she withdrew from me after what I did, it hurt me more than I was willing to admit. Children are so simple. I knew I loved her and told myself that she was more beloved to me than any other potential sister could possibly be. But it was when I grew up that I realized what I felt for her was more than the love for a sister.

But by then it was too late. What I felt would never be accepted by her so I suffered in silence. I watched her chase after my beloved onii-san while being oblivious to everything else. I became adept at cool looks and chilly words. My face would stay blank no matter what was discussed in front of me.

And I continued to love her from a distance.

Carrot's selfishness and love of Chocolate had given me a chance that I couldn't refuse. After so long, Tira had chosen me for emotional support. I swore to myself that I wouldn't screw this up. I had wanted to mend the breech between us for so long and here was my chance. I would keep this relationship strictly platonic in order to keep her friendship. Even though I loved Tired I was realistic. Tira was a person who would be faithful to the person she loved no matter what. Her heart was occupied already and I had accepted that long ago. I would be content with simply regaining all that we had so long ago.

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Tira's POV:

I knocked on Marron's door with two quick raps. My eyebrow itched. My left arm held down by a grocery bag so I blew back my bangs with a soft puff of air from my lips that calmed the itch for the moment.

"Come in." I heard him call.

I walked into the room and immediately got distracted by Marron. He was adorably tousled and his heavy lidded golden eyes were still sleepy looking. I took a deep breath then sat the bag down on the bed.

"Breakfast?" Marron looked up at me.

I nodded. "Your favorite."

"Budo pan?" He exclaimed. "I haven't had that in a while."

I sat on the edge of the bed. "I know. It's sort of a thank you for last night."

"There's no need to thank me for that." Marron said earnestly. "I hate it when you have nightmares, Tira."

I shrugged. "Still..."

I watched him delve into the bag. He withdrew a corked container of tea and then the budo pan. He sniffed delicately at the tea after he uncorked it then smiled at me. I just smiled. I have never forgotten that sencha is his favorite kind of tea, mostly because of his particularity with it since he was a child.

"Where is yours?" He asked before taking a bite.

I said, "Oh I already ate at the shop. I couldn't sleep very well. Too busy thinking.."

"Of what?" He asked.

I had to be honest. "Of you."

Marron looked surprised at my admission. He turned his attention to finishing the last bite of his food. When he finished he stood up and poured the tepid water from the pitcher into the bowl. He washed his hands then turned back to look at me.

"What were you thinking exactly?" He asked finally.

I shivered a little but continued to be honest. I said softly. "How it would feel to kiss you."

He looked shocked. "Why were you thinking about that?"

"I think it's because in one way or another," I continued softly. "I have always wanted to know."

His eyes flickered with an emotion that was gone too quickly for me to see. "And what of Carrot?"

"What I feel for him has faded." I told him what I had discovered. "I made no fuss, threw no tantrums when he announced that he had picked Chocolate. You know as well as I do that that in itself was an unnatural reaction."

He said almost to himself. "I knew it. You were too quiet and well behaved."

"Exactly." I nodded. "I should have whipped him, screamed at my sister or done something dramatic to accept my loss. But I didn't."

He looked at me with piercing eyes and stated. "And now you have thoughts of kissing me."

"Right now that's all they will remain." I replied. "I've sorted out my feelings for Carrot but I haven't even tried to look at what I feel for you, Marron."

He looked undecided for a moment then smiled warmly at me. "Let me know when you figure it out, Tira. Because only then will I give you a kiss you'll never forget."


Glossary:

Budo pan: it's a type of bread that has a raisin mixture in the middle. It's kind of like a turnover.

Sencha: a type of tea. From what I understand it's a tea that is served to guests of the household. Very different than the type of tea served at restaurants or offices.