Author Note: I don't if anybody has noticed it, but I'm starting to change the way I'm writing the story. There will be less dialogue and more descriptions. I want to know if I should keep this style, or go back to the way I had it. I need some reviews people!

Tetsumi tried to go sleep, but Mistress Fumika's words were still fresh in his mind. The boy had no idea that such things were possible. All his life, he was surrounded by friends and family that loved him. Perhaps too much, but they all meant well. None of his friends back home had parents that treated their children or spouse unfairly. His father and mother seemed to love each other madly, even at their age. Tetsumi could never imagine his father hitting his mother or his children. He felt terrible about what he had told Natsu. She came from a home where her father was a monster and her mother lived in fear. He had to apologize to Natsu. So Tetsumi headed for the girl's room.

(Whispers) "Natsu, are you awake?"

"Hmm. Tetsumi, is that you?"

"Yes."

"What are you doing here? We have to get up in a couple of hours."

"I know. I came here to apologize for earlier."

"Fine. You apologized and I accept it. Now leave me alone."

"Do you even know what I'm apologizing about?"

"Yes. You're apologizing for being a stuck up brat with no sense of humor."

"No, I'm apologizing for… Wait, you think I'm a stuck up brat?"

"Sure, I've thought that since the day I met you."

"Really, I thought you like me… never mind. I'm sorry about your father."

"What! Who told you about my father?"

"Mistress Fumika. I'm sorry that you had to live with a man like that. If I had known, I never would have said what I did."

"First of all, I don't need your pity, Tetsumi. Second, how dare that old woman tell someone about my past?"

"Natsu, you want to talk about it?"

"No I don't and I never will! I think you should leave, Tetsumi, before someone catches you here."

"Fine, you don't want to talk about it, I will leave, but not before I tell you something. Remember when you told me to loosen up; you should think about taking your own advice. I can see that it must have been hard for you growing up. I can also see that you must be a strong person in order to endure such torture. You may think that if you keep everything inside, you will be alright. If I was like you, I would not be here. I suggest you open up a bit more, or you will be the one that will be alone. I'm here if you need someone to listen to you. Good night."

"Tetsumi… wait."

"Yes."

"How dare you talk to me like that! Who do you think you are to lecture me? Where do you get the nerve to tell me what to do? I am not some weak, helpless little girl that needs someone to watch out for her! I have seen and done more than you could possibly imagine!"

"I… I was just trying to help…"

"Next time, ask yourself if the person wants help before you open your mouth!"

As Tetsumi, his head down and feeling even worse about what he has said, leaves the room, a smile sneaks across Natsu's face.

"I'm sorry that I had to be so rough with you, but sometimes you just irritate me to no end."

"How am I irritating?"

"You have this innocent little boy routine that you play to perfection. I know that's not you. Why don't you try and be yourself?"

"But this is who I am. How can I change that?"

"That is not you. That is who others want you to be. Face it, Tetsumi, you are not home anymore. I know you miss it, but you must realize that the days of your childhood are gone. The life you knew is no more, you must move on. You may not believe it, but when I first left my home, I missed it too. It took me a while, but I came to accept the fact that my life had changed for the better. You need to as well."

"Why would I want to do that? I was perfectly happy back home."

"Why did you leave then?"

"…."

"What was that? I couldn't hear what you said?"

"I don't know why I left."

"Could it be that you were getting tired of your life?"

"No! I had everything I needed: friends that I liked, a family that loved me…"

"And?"

"And what?"

"Is that it?"

"What more could I possibly want?"

"You tell me."

"We need to stop this. We're just going around in circles. I better go. Good night, again."

Tetsumi had left Natsu's room and was now in his. He had apologized, so why couldn't he fall asleep? Could it have been what Natsu told him? Was he really just "acting" as she had put it? He didn't think that he was, so why was he still thinking about it? As Tetsumi lay there, he mulled over what he had heard tonight.

"Could Natsu be right? Am I just acting the way that everybody wants me to act? No, that can't be it. I'm an idiot for even thinking it. How can someone act differently from the way that they really are. Impossible… and yet it would explain a lot. Why did I leave my home? I had it all back home, so why did I leave? It wasn't my parents, or my friends. What did I tell my father when I left? It was my dream to become a demon slayer, yes that's what it was. My dream… my life… my choice. I chose to leave it all behind, and for what? So I could wake up at dawn, go to class, and suffer under the eyes of instructors who could care less about me? Listen to me; I'm starting to sound like Natsu. That girl… Why can't I get her out of my mind? What would Iria say if I told her about this? Iria… Why did I leave you behind? What could have made me leave you? I want to see you, but something is keeping me here, away from you. Why did I come here?"