Disclaimer: No I don't own any of these characters, there I said it, you happy now?

Rs:Ah it feels good now that I don't have to retype anymore...

Sasame: Please, you still typed like 7 pages for your new story. You are going to post it soon...right?

Rs: Yeah oh when'd you get back? How was your date with Tragic-san?

Sasame: (beams dreamily) Heaven...that's all I'll say...

Rs:Right...well you really cheered her up! Poor Tragic-san had a knee surgery!

Sasame: Well since she reviewed again ...can I take her out?

Rs: (arches an eyebrow) Sure if she wants to. Anyways here's Chapter 5!

Chapter Five: Melting Frozen Hearts

"Mmm! This is delicious. Your culinary skills are exceptional." I praised warmly.

'I have to stop acting like a goofball, it gets me nowhere.'

"Arigatou, demo really it's only ramen." She answered with a small smile.

I was dumbfounded. There we were, sitting wrapped in a blanket on opposing couches to keep our freezing butts warm, slurping ramen in a locked up and powerless house and she finally smiles? Well…I'll take what I can get.

I beamed "Mawata-san…you have such a beautiful smile."

To my silent dismay, her smile quickly faded. "Arigatou Sasame-san." She replied cordially before asking "So why do you think the power went out so suddenly?"

" Hmm…the blizzard must have done something to the power lines. At any rate, I doubt they'll make it home tonight…" I trailed off.

She placed her empty bowl on the coffee table between us. "You mean we're stuck here all night…alone? D-demo what if you-" Mawata broke off fidgeting with her robe as a rosy glow danced on her cheeks.

"It's alright. I would never take advantage of a girl. " I soothingly reassured her, gathering the dirty dishes to place in the kitchen sink. Once I was out of her earshot, I added, " Unless of course she asked me too. Heh, Mawata would never permit me to though."

Once I had returned, she had already regained her composure. She waited until I was seated before asking "Are you feeling any better?"

"I'm feeling much better are you?" I was worried her labored breathing had returned and she almost appeared to be stifling moans of pain.

" Of course I am." She managed another smile, "Why do you ask?"

I frowned, placing my hand on her forehead. "You don't sound good." As I expected, she was fairly warm.

"Well, I'm just fine." She snapped, jerking away with blazing cheeks.

"Maa, maa. I thought you were all about telling the truth." I mused.

"The truth tends to only burden others…it's better not to make them worry." She replied quietly.

"You're making me worry more by not telling me what's wrong." I frowned, while gently tracing her jaw line.

Sheglanced away. "Well I feel a little weary and cold and my head and joints ache a bit." She finally admitted.

" I see…" I contemplated the thought for a moment before heading over to her couch. " Now take off your robe and lay down." I gently commanded.

She panicked " Nani yo! What are you going to do?" she cried as I undid her robe and eased her down on the couch on her stomach.

" I'm just going to give you a massage to loosen up and relax your muscles. Now be a good girl and do as I say." I reprimanded.

" I don't need to be coddled!" she insisted struggling.

To force her to stay still, I straddled her back, trying to ignore the sensation of her bucking against me and started on her shoulders. "Nonsense, everyone needs a little coddling every now and then."

" I don't…need…any…" she sighed as contentment seeped through her body.

As I worked, I felt so many tight knots in her shoulders alone. Had this girl never relaxed before?

"Mawata-san you have so much tension for one so young. Is there anything you're worrying about?"

" Iie…I need…to be strong…I promised." She mumbled quietly.

"What did you promise, to whom was it to?" I questioned.

"……."

" Do you not wish to talk about it?"

"……."

"Mawata-san?"

"…Otou-chan…it was my Otou-chan. He told me if anything were to happen to him-" her voice cracked as tears sprang to her eyes. " If anything were to happen to him-I was t-to be strong f-for Mayune and Okaa-san and then-and then he-" Mawata broke out in sobs as tears ran down her face. "G-gomen ne I need to s-stop demo I-I 'm too weak!" she wept bitterly.

"Mawata…" I climbed off her and sat her upright. "Oh Mawata…you're not weak for weeping. It takes a strong person to bottle all of your pain and sadness inside, demo it takes an even stronger person to let it all go, to say what troubles you. If anything I'm sure that's what your father meant." I whispered caressing her teal locks.

"Honto ni?" she bit her lip with her head hung down in shame.

I raised her chin so she faced me. "Honto ni." I clarified, wiping away her tears in small strokes with my thumb. "Do not be ashamed to cry. Each tear you shed shows just how much you love him."

" D-demo…" she sniffed.

I held her to my chest; "You gave your shoulders for your mother and sister so they could deal with their grief. Now allow me to lend you mine so you may face yours." She trembled in my arms as scalding tears bathed my chest, turning into hysterical sobs.

"Sasame! Why did he have to die? Why did he leave me? I was alone…so alone…No one seemed to understand my pain! They all saw in me only what they wanted to see. No one was there…No one would hold me and say everything will be all right. No one…No one... I was left to drown in an inescapable pool of loneliness. Kami-sama he was everything to me! Happiness, Joy, Innocence, my childhood, they all died with him!" she cried in despair.

" It's ok…let it all out." I murmured, rocking her gently.

Listening to her cries made my heart ache inside. She had definitely been the apple of her father's eyes. Then to have the one you loved most taken away so young…Yet still to honor him, you smiled and shouldered everyone else's grief.

'Mawata…you're so selfless. In your own way you were just trying to protect the ones you love. You even went as far as boxing up your own heart in order not to be a burden on anyone else, still…sometimes it just makes things worse'

Sasame-san? Are you alright?" Mawata's voice snapped me from my thoughts. "You're…crying…" she pointed out worriedly, her own tears long stopped.

I raised my hand to my cheek feeling the signature dampness of tears." So… I am. It's been so long but the pain is still as fresh as that day." I whispered hastily reaching up to wipe my eyes, as more shameful tears threatened to leak out, but Mawata stopped me.

"Didn't, didn't you tell me that it's ok to cry? Why hide your tears? You listened to my worries; you were there for me…Now I…"she paused tentatively embracing me, " want to be here for you."

Suddenly a dam collapsed inside of me as tears came cascading down my face. It was as if a part of me was melting inside...

Rs: I know I'm soooo evil for making everyone's favorite bishie cry and leaving a cliffy. DON'T HURT ME!

Sasame: (smirks) If they do, you deserve it. Heh

Rs: Sure...well one more chapter to go then I'm done!

Sasame: Ahem..do you mind?

Rs: Fine I'll transport you to Tragic-san, but if she doesn't want you, you better come back OK?

Sasame: (produces a red rose from nowhere and winks) Oh don't worry, she'll want me!

Rs: Have fun and send her my best wishes!(hits a button and Sasame disappears) Well that's all for now folks!