Disclaimer – I don't own anything besides the keyboard I'm typing on. Warning: This chapter is a bit angst-y. Kinda shocking compared to the first chapter. Anyways, read if you want, flame if you've got nothing better to do. :

Chapter 2 – Courage – A Short Step Away

Shinn sulked his way home. He opened his door, and didn't bother to shout that he was home. Why? Because he didn't have a family. Well, not anymore. They had died when he was little. He had no idea how. He had no close relatives, except for his aunt. But she had died last year, and now he was staying at his house all alone. But no one knew. Except him. Because if anyone did know, the government would probably come and take him away to an orphanage, or worse.

Shinn sighed, and threw his backpack on the couch. His life sucked. Out loud. He walked into the kitchen, and opened the fridge door. He grabbed a can of ginger ale, and then grabbed the bag of chips on the table. He lived in a bungalow, and the good thing was for now he didn't have to worry about money. His family had been quite wealthy, as was his aunt. The bungalow belonged to him, so he did not need to pay rent, just property tax. He could buy whatever food he wanted, but he couldn't cook much, just instant noodles and frozen stuff he could cook in the microwave.

Shinn flopped on the couch and turned on the TV. He was halfway through the chips when his doorbell rung. Curious, Shinn crawled to the door and looked through hole to see who it was. Meyrin. Weird. Shinn opened the door, regretting it as he did.

As the door opened, Meyrin fell on the ground in front of him. Shinn was astonished. He bent down and looked put his arm around Meyrin. He heard sobs. He lifted her face, and saw her eyes were streamed with tears, and the little make-up she wore was smeared around her cheeks. Her eyes were puffy. Apparently she had been crying for a while.

Shinn didn't say anything, but helped her up, and sat her down on the couch. He wiped away the chips that were scattered on the couch, and then looked back at Meyrin. She was still crying. Shinn placed his arm around her shoulders, and reached for a tissue. He offered it to Meyrin, but she didn't even look up. After a few minutes, he bent down.

"Meyrin?" he queried softly, on his knees. Meyrin stopped crying for a second, and looked down at him. "Did something happen?" Meyrin didn't answer him. A vacant stare appeared in her eyes, and then fear crept in to her violet eyes, and she threw herself at Shinn knocking him over, her head buried in his chest.

"Oof." Shinn gasped as she landed on him. He put his arms around her consolingly, and then after many more minutes her sobs subsided. Shinn wiped her tears away with the corner of his shirt, and she lay there, not moving. Finally Shinn got a little frustrated. "Meyrin?" he asked again. "Did something happen?"

Meyrin hiccupped, and then looked up at Shinn. "A-Athrun."

Shinn didn't know what to think. "You mean your boyfriend?"

Meyrin nodded. "H-He left!" then tears erupted, and Meyrin started crying again. Shinn was shocked. He wanted to ask her how, but that wouldn't be the best thing right now. He sighed, and then put his arm around her shoulders and helped her up. He brought her to his room, and laid her on his bed. He patted her back, and finally her tears stopped, and she fell to sleep. Shinn smiled half-heartedly at her, and got up. He looked at the clock. It was nine-o-clock. Wow. Good thing it was the weekend. Shinn grabbed the TV remote and turned it on. After a while, it got rather hot. Shinn pulled his shirt off, and his pants, until all he had on were his boxers and a white tank top. He was watching a show when a tap sounded at the door. A loud, angry tap.

Shinn grumbled, and got up. He opened the door, and there was Lunamaria. There were no tears on her face, but she looked angry. "Is Meyrin here?" she asked angrily.

Shinn nodded. "Yeah."

Lunamaria pushed past him. "Where is she?"

Shinn pointed towards his room. "Um, she finally went to sleep. I don't think you should bug her."

Lunamaria glared at the room, and saw a figure huddled in the blankets. The she stared back at Shinn, noticing his attire.

"I-I didn't do anything to her!" he blurted out, blushing.

"I never said you did. But now that I think about it…"

"Hey!"

"I was kidding." Lunamaria sat down on the couch, looking dejected. Then she made a face, reached under her, and came up with a wrinkled pair of pants, and a belt. Shinn blushed and turned around.

After a while, Shinn joined Luna on the couch, and they watched a show until Luna fell asleep, and her head fell onto Shinn's shoulder. Shinn blushed, and then turned his attention back to the television. Poor girl. She must be tired. After the show ended, Shinn glanced at the clock. One-o-clock? Oh geez. He tapped Luna lightly on the shoulder, and spoke softly. "Hey, Luna."

Luna's eyes propped open, and she stared at Shinn, then at the clock. "Oh man, is it one already?"

"Yeah. I think you should get home. You mom will be worried, and with all that happening with Meyrin…"

Luna's eyes were vacant. "Can I stay here tonight?"

Shinn was surprised. "Um, are you going to tell your mom?"

Luna shook her head. "I can't."

Shinn was confused. "Why? You're not running away from home, are you?"

Lunamaria shook her head. "No. My mom…she's in a mental hospital."

Shinn gasped. "But…"

"My dad is still in Australia. When our parents divorced, my mom got us. My dad never wanted us. I haven't seen him since I was two. Meyrin had been born a year ago. My parents were always arguing.." Luna whispered the last word as if it were poison.

"Um. Sure. You can stay here then."

Luna smiled. "Thanks. You don't mind if I sleep on the couch, do you?"

Shinn shook his head. "Knock yourself out."

Lunamaria smiled at him. "Thanks."

Shinn nodded, then went to his room, he was about to lie on the bed when he remembered Meyrin was there. He sighed, and then sat beside her on the bed. Her face was so peaceful looking, and even though her eyes were still puffy from the crying, she looked so…cute. Shinn smiled slightly at the thought. He reached down and stroked her hair. It was so long. Lunamaria had short hair, and she was pretty in an out-going way. Stellar was cute and beautiful at the same time, and held a delicate aura around her. Meyrin was just so cute. She kind of reminded him of Mayu. Even their names were sort of similar.

Shinn smiled at the thought of his little sister, but his smile faded when he remembered the day they died. He didn't even remember much. Just coming home, and having no one there. That was the day he had seen a strange girl walking around his street. She had blonde hair. That was all he knew. That horrible day had been when he was ten. Now he was sixteen.

Shinn nodded off, then fell asleep.

The next thing he knew, it was morning, and the sun blinded him. Shinn groaned, and snuggled up the warm thing beside him. The thing groaned. The thing groaned! Shinn's eyes flashed open, and he yelped as he saw Meyrin on his bed. He moved back, and then yelped again when he fell off the bad.

"Ohh." Shinn groaned. The noise woke Meyrin up, and she jumped up.

"Shinn?" she asked questioningly.

Authoress' Notes

Okay, I am not very good at writing long chapters…yes a totally random chapter, but you'll see why this happened. And yes, no Shinn and Stellar yet…but don't worry, the next chapter will be filled with it. Anyways, flame away…