Whoa this was a fast update but I really want to finish this before school starts and I lose the willpower to do this. I honestly don't know what this is. Way longer than intended but I honestly didn't have a plan when I started this. It just got a life of it's own and wrote itself really. I have a feeling I might regret this chapter in the morning but right now I feel pretty good about it and I worked hard on it so I want to post it. Be prepared for some editing of this later on. If you like it the way it is let me know.

btw they are supposed to be age 10ish at this period of time. I have a feeling that I am always writing them so maturely but...I think it works?

Oh and ignore the chapter titles if i even give them any

Finally I'm done! Enjoy!

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ii.

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There was a heavy spring rain pounding on the roof, a view of the downpour in the window next to her table, a book in her hands, and the peaceful quiet and emptiness of the library. To Mamushi, everything was perfect. Perfect except for… Sigh

Mamushi's left eye almost twitched as Juuzou released yet another breath of air. She peeked at him over her book to where he was sitting across from her, resting his head over his crossed arms that he pressed against the table, absentmindedly staring at the spring shower.

The sight was enough to get Mamushi to release a sigh of her own. It was downright weird for Juuzou to be spending his lunch with her but it was the second time this week. Normally, Mamushi would have let him know that he was cramping her style and he should beat it because they spent enough time together outside of school. But things hadn't been normal or close to it for a while.

Nothing had been normal since the Blue Night. Since Juuzou's older brother and many others died because of the flames of Satan. That night had changed the lives of everyone at the temple and Juuzou was no different. His life would never again be the normal they once knew.

By being the second son in the Shima family, he had now become the oldest. Taking over the position that his 'big bro' once had. Because of that he had changed since that night. Not only did he have to take over the responsibilities of being the next in line of the Shima family but he had taken over being the big brother to all of his younger siblings.

Mamushi could see the effort he put in to be a good big brother and a good son like his brother had been but, in her opinion, it wasn't really necessary. With or without Blue Night happening, it wouldn't change the fact that Juuzou liked taking care of kids or the fact that he was a responsible and level headed son. These things were ways that you could have described Juuzou before and after the incident. The only difference was the emphasis that he was placing on those things. And how hard he worked to get rid of his characteristics that he had deemed 'immature' or not proper to have anymore.

Since the funeral, Mamushi rarely saw him. He always seemed busy with something. Busy comforting those who needed it or being responsible for something or talking with his father or taking care of and training his siblings. These were things Mamushi understood herself considering she was the eldest in her family but seeing Juuzou having to act like that was strange at first.

Juuzou made sure to keep himself busy. So busy that they didn't even walk to school anymore. He would either leave for school early or come in late. Often times Mamushi wished she would come in to class late as well. Both of them were recognized by their town as belonging to the 'cursed temple' and it made people wary. It left them ostracized by their peers. Mamushi was already used to being on her own during the school hours and only ever felt close to those at the temple, even if that meant the Shima family. Juuzou, on the other hand, had always been popular among their classmates but, he too, was getting the cold shoulder from them.

However, this still did not mean that they spent their lunches together. Mamushi preferred to not be around those who referred to her temple as 'cursed' and felt that she spent enough time with Juuzou as was so she spent her lunch in the library. Juuzou went….elsewhere. She wasn't really sure and she never bothered to ask. It wasn't any of her business.

The only catalyst that Mamushi could think of that could have caused him to decide to eat lunch together happened two days earlier. Mamushi had been walking to school at her regular time. Her sisters were sick that day and so she was making the trip alone which could be kind of miserable. She may have never had any real friends at school but being treated like a social leper was worse.

She had been worrying about whether her bangs covered the zit she discovered that morning when she saw Juuzou by the crosswalk. Strangely enough, he was alone too. She wordlessly stood next to him as they both waited for the sign to change. It was a situation they were both used to and unused to at the same time. Both comfortable and uncomfortable. They were normally surrounded by their siblings and other temple children yet they had also spent a great deal of time alone together. Walking together before Blue Night and now walking together after it. It was just the same.

She remembered that a couple of years ago this was the crosswalk where they were forced to hold hands as they crossed it. Sometimes they would protest and makes faces.

"I don't want to hold hands with Mamushi! Her hands are always cold!"

"Well, I don't want to hold your stupid sweaty hands either!"

She felt so much older than she had been then. But at the same time, though everything felt different, not much had changed either.

They crossed in silence but once they had made it to the other side Juuzou broke it, "Your sisters are sick too?"

Mamushi almost scoffed. Of course they would have the same illness, having spent so much time together. Instead, she gave a nod.

"This feels strange, huh? We haven't walked to school together in a long time."

And whose actions are responsible for that? Mamushi thought but she said, "I've been enjoying the peace and quiet. It's too bad it had to end."

Juuzou laughed. "You're still so mean Mamushi."

"Why wouldn't I be?"

They both stopped, now standing just at the entrance of the school, and Juuzou stared at Mamushi. Mamushi did not waver in staring right back at him. Juuzou opened his mouth as if to say something but was interrupted by other students pushing their way past the frozen pair. At this, Mamushi entered the school and went on her own way leaving Juuzou to do the same.

However, during lunch of that day, he found her at the library and joined her. He didn't say anything to her or try to distract her from her reading at all. He simply stared out the window. But this distracted her more than talking would have and she couldn't focus on her book at all! Lunch ended without having spoken a word to each other and it left Mamushi greatly confused.

The next day they didn't see each other once and Mamushi began to think that maybe that had been a onetime thing. Just as she was beginning to get lured into that false sense of security, Mamushi was surprised to see him already sitting at her favourite table in the library during their next lunchtime.

Like he had done the day before, she didn't say anything to him and just opened the book to try and read it but couldn't make it past the first page. All of his subtle movements and sounds were distracting her worse than if someone had been yelling in the library! She just couldn't focus when he was in her space like that. After reading the same sentence for the fortieth time, Mamushi had had enough.

She slammed her book against the table and glared at Juuzou across from her. He had looked up in shock to see what the noise had been about and was even more surprised to see the glare Mamushi was giving him.

"Okay. That's enough. What is it? What do you want? Why are you here?" she spoke through clenched teeth.

Juuzou's shocked face melted into something more neutral. He shrugged his shoulders as he adjusted himself to be leaning back against the chair with his hands behind his head. "Just passing the time until lunch is over."

Mamushi continued to glare. "But why are you doing it here?"

Juuzou stared into Mamushi's eyes for a long moment before shrugging again. Before Mamushi could get in a response, Juuzou tilted his head back to face the ceiling and closed his eyes.

After a moment, he said quietly, "You're still the same," he paused. "Even after everything changed." He didn't provide any information as to whether that was supposed to answer her question or if she was supposed to answer that.

Mamushi stared at him. He was still facing the ceiling with his eyes closed like he hadn't said anything at all. Eventually she rolled her eyes. "Like you've changed so much. You're still just a stupid Shima. Just like your stupid dad. Just like your stupid brother."

That got him looking at her again. In his face she could recognize some of that temper that he had hidden away but was, apparently, just underneath the surface. "What did you just say?" He raised his voice as much as he could in a library.

"Wow," Mamushi said dryly, knowing she was about to push some serious buttons. "Even you're embarrassed to be called a Shima."

That had done it. Juuzou leaped out of his chair, slammed his hands on the table, and opened his mouth to give her a serious telling off when he stopped. If he did this, it might cause trouble for his family. He wouldn't be setting a good example like a big brother should. In his eyes, if he did this he would be failing in his new responsibilities. But if he didn't…well it just wouldn't be right. Because this is what Mamushi drives him to do. He plays cool and calm until she pushes the right button and he's off. And if he didn't do it, it wouldn't be the same. The semblance of his past life that he could hold onto, he would be letting go. And Mamushi knew that.

Mamushi raised her eyebrows at him. Looking a combination of bored and expectant. A face that clearly said "Is that it?" No, it most definitely was not.

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"I'm sure you both know that not even loud talking is allowed in the library so what both of you were doing shouting and fighting in the library, I will never understand," the principal said as he rubbed his forehead from behind his desk. "And the amount of profanity used. I mean, gee golly. It's not the type of language I would think you were taught at a temple of all places."

Both Juuzo and Mamushi sat quietly in front of the principal's desk, heads bowed. They had been kicked out of the library at lunch for brawling and shouting. They were told to go to the principal's office at the end of the day for their punishment.

The principle sighed. "Well, I know things have been difficult for the both of you recently and I am understanding that it might affect you in a variety of ways but that kind of behaviour is prohibited in schools. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir," they replied in unison.

"Good. Then get out of here. I won't call your parents. But if there's any more troublemaking behaviour from you two you will be punished appropriately," he called out after them as they shuffled out of the office.

Neither could look at the other and both of them just ignored each other to go to their respective lockers. The school was empty at this point and after gathering all his things, Juuzou groaned in realization that it was still raining slightly and he didn't have an umbrella.

Surprisingly, waiting at the door, with an umbrella, was Mamushi. Their eyes met for the first time since entering the principal's office and Juuzou had to make an effort to turn his laughter into a cough. Even Mamushi tried to hide her smile.

Without saying anything, Mamushi opened her umbrella as they left the school and Juuzou ducked underneath it. To Juuzou's annoyance, he was still the same height as Mamushi.

Juuzou spoke first. "Sooo.…where'd you learn to curse like that?"

Mamushi shrugged. "Here and there." Pause. "Was it really necessary to throw a book at me?"

"Jeez. It didn't hit you. Unlike your words which happened to cut through my very soul thank you very much."

"Good. They were supposed to."

Just like before and all the times before that and probably for a few more times in the future, Mamushi and Juuzou reached the crosswalk and waited for the light to change. The sun had begun peeking out from behind the clouds on their way there and as they waited, the rain came to a complete stop.

As Mamushi closed her umbrella and put it away, she noticed Juuzou fidgeting in the corner of her eye. She was about to snap at him to stop when the light changed and they both stepped off the curb. It was then that she felt Juuzou's hand wrap around hers.

Mamushi was shocked into silence. Her face flushed and her heartbeat started beating faster. She was too nervous to look down at their clasped hands but from the quick glance she took, she saw that Juuzou was blushing as well.

It was the hand she had always known yet it was somehow different. Bigger and rougher due to calluses but still warm to the point of clamminess. Just three years ago it was a hand that she held often, walking across this exact same crosswalk, yet it was no longer the same. No longer felt the same. She definitely didn't blush this much three years ago.

They quickly let go of each other's hands after they had finished crossing. If either had asked the other what that was about, they both would have claimed something about feeling nostalgic. But neither did.

Some things don't change. But some do become different.

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I think I'll be writing about cram school in the next chapter. That's going to be exciting since they'll be teenagers and experiencing teenage angst and the like. Perfecto. Oh and I wouldn't say they like each other yet but I wouldn't say they don't either? Their relationship is weird. I just have to make sure to pace it right because they don't get together till they're like 25 which is crazy to me cause they clearly care about each other. Well at least Juuzou does for sure (in my head anyways)