Author's note: I was listening to love songs while writting this. Slow, relaxing love songs. Seems odd.

I'd like to apologise for something. I made a small miscalculation with Hitsugi's hair. The hair I was speaking of is from 2006, when this is set in 2008 as Hitsugi is supposed to be 26, not 24. I won't change anything, but as a fan I felt I had to say this! He should have black hair with red high lights. I like to be precise.

I hope you enjoy. Please leave a comment!

While everything had happened, I had forgotten something quite crucial in my life. I also forgot about how my new circumstances would effect it.

What about school?

I'd completely forgotten about it until I found my blazer in one of my suitcases. I sat on the edge of the bed (that I now called mine) and stared at it for a while, thoughts rushing through my head. A day after my mother's death, I had sent a single text to each of my school friends telling them not to worry but to leave me alone. I had had my phone off ever since, not wanting to communicate with anyone but myself. I didn't even like talking to myself half the time. I hadn't been a very positive conservationist.

I was distracted from my thoughts when Hitsugi entered the room, holding some black and silver storage boxes to go under my bed. Mitsuo had asked to be called Hitsugi and the reason why he requested to be called such a ridiculous name was yet to be explained to me. I was going to ask when he had find announced it, but a crash of suitcases interrupted me. I didn't get a chance to ask again.

"Hitsugi-" I began, still clutching my blazer "What about my school? It's all the way in Sendai..."

The man placed the boxes on the bed and sat next to me.

"Well... Sadly there's going to be more changes." He swallowed "In fact it's going to be a little odd, maybe hectic, for a while"

Hitsugi explained that I was going to be home taught for a while. He told me how social services were trying 'a new thing' with helping children with bereavement. They wanted me to be home taught for a while by a one-to-one teacher, in the company of psychiatrist. This would only go on for about 6 weeks, just to check my mental state. After that, I would have to join a new school here in Tokyo. The only good bit was that I got to choose which school I joined, but even that wasn't fantastic.

But Hitsugi wasn't finished explaining the other reasons it would be hetic. My mother's funeral had been delayed while social services had been placing me in a home. Apparently there were other underlining reasons as to why, but Hitsugi was denied the information there. Now that I was placed, Hitsugi and I had to return to Sendai in seven days time for her funeral. I felt my heart drop. I quickly changed the subject, desperate to forget my mother for the time being.

I attempted to change the conversation with the unanswered question from earlier.

"So, why do people call you Hitsugi?" I asked, cocking my head to one side.

"Because it's my stage name" he said flatly, moving the boxes to the floor, opening them all up and placing the lids beneath them.

I raised an eyebrow "Stage name?"

"In my band. It started off as a name for people to call me when I was performing, but almost 9 years later... Yeah, it kind of stuck. "

I quickly became intrigued. I hadn't completely believed Mikki when she said he was a musician.

"You're a musician? What do you play? Or do you sing? Oh, what genre? What-"

"Jesus!" Hitsugi covered his ears, smiling bashfully " how am I supposed to answer all these questions at once?" I pulled his hair out his eyes before answering "I'm a guitarist"

"That is so cool!" I practically jumped off the bed "Where have you played?"

"All over the country. And at a lot of Anime conventions" Hitsugi shuffled, still smiling.

"Have-"

Hitsugi quickly covered my mouth "You shouldn't ask so many questions. You'll get yourself in trouble one day" he allowed his hand to drop from my mouth and moved it to tap my knee "Come on. Lets get you settled. I'll get some coat hangers"

Hitsugi rushed out the room with a spring in his step, leaving me to carry on unpacking my shirts. I thought fondly as I neatly folded them and placed them in a drawer. I felt relieved that he seemed happy with my presence. He genuinly seemed glad to have me. Not even my own mother had ever seemed that joyed to be in my company. I'm not saying she didn't love me, I just believe she saw me as a massive inconvenience in her life. Hitsugi returned moments later with about six coat hangers in each hand. Like the boxes, he placed them on the bed. He offered to help and I quick accepted. As we tidily placed my shirts and tops in to the top drawer, Hitsugi started the conversation again.

"What do you eat?"

"Food!" I snickered "I dunno... Most things. I'm funny about seafood. Fish is fine, but things like crab and lobster are just... No! I can't eat those things with out feeling sick"

Hitsugi laughed from the back of his throat "Shame. I do like crab noodles! No bother. Sushi, chips, chicken, all that stuff good?"

I gave a sharp nod and mumbled a sound of approval. I swirled round to grab a band shirt out my close-to-empty suitcase.

"So chips, chicken and sushi is good for dinner?"

"Chicken and sushi?!" I sounded appalled. I'd never heard of someone serving such an odd meal. "Who the hell creates a meal like that? They don't even go! It's not like... Like... I dunno. Sausage and bacon!"

Hitsugi raised an eyebrow.

"Well... We can always order out. It's just because the chicken and sushi goes out of date soon. Don't really mind... Waste not want not, y'know?"

As much as my own eyebrows had raised at the strange concoction, I didn't argue. I did like it all, so why should I complain really? Not to mention it would of been quite rude. Though my outburst about complimenting meat wasn't very polite...

After a while I was left alone to finish unpacking my last suitcase while Hitsugi sorted out dinner. He told me to come straight down stairs once I was done and head to the dining room. He directed me that it was between the living room and the kitchen. I had nodded, but as I hadn't really looked round the house yet, I didn't even know where the living room was! I went on my little hunt around the down stairs without a worry. It was a little strange in Hitsugi's home. While the outside was very tradition, the inside was western. He had black doors and metallic red walls in the hallway, which was a style very different from what I was used to. Most homes I had been in simply had white walls and traditional light brown Japanese sliding doors. When I found the living room, I was amused to see it had a carpet. When I lived with mum, we just had floorboards in every room, with a odd rug here and there. Hitsugi's home seemed cosey though. I followed his directions and saw another door on the right side of the room. I strolled over and entered the dining room. Hitsugi was sitting at one end, scribbling away on sheets of paper, a pair of thick frames perched on the bridge of his nose. With out looking up, he spoke.

"So tell me more about yourself. I feel I have spoken too much and you too little"

I swallowed "What would you like to know?"

"Everything. Likes and hates and tastes"

I paused, chewing my lip in deep thought. I didn't know what to tell him. 'Everything' was quite a lot to say. Where should I start? I cut out music as that conversation had happened in the car. Hitsugi had stopped what he was doing now and I was staring at me in a rather uncomfortable manner. I wasn't sure if he truly was looking at me or if he was looking through me. I couldn't keep him waiting and I had to think of something quick before I gnawed straight through my bottom lip. I sat down at the opposite end of the table and began.

"I don't have a favourite film." I blurted out after a long pause "People always ask that and I never know what to say. There is so many films to like so its cruel to have to narrow it down to one favourite... I can say my favourite horror is The Ring! It's so weird"

Hitsugi cocked a smile "Interesting. Tell me more"

And with only one breath, I told my new guardian every random fact about myself that came to my head "I prefer dogs to cats. I had a plush toy duck when I was little called Bill. I think dolls are fucking scary but I like them. Sometimes I talk with a lisp and I don't know why. I still watch Pokemon. I prefer chicken skewers than a piece of chicken shoved on a plate. I don't like girls who are taller than me. I hate the colour yellow. I love the rest of the rainbow. I forgot how to do cartwheels last year-"

"Dude!" Hitsugi began to laugh at me "Not so fast!"

"- Half the time I don't think comedy films are funny. I think I'm weird. I bite my nails. I love to talk but I also hate it. I broke both my legs 3 years ago and they still hurt now. I love carrots. I hate corn on the cob. Wrestlers scare me. I used to play drums but my mum threw them away. I didn't cry when my mum died and I still haven't."

I stopped, shutting my mouth tiredly. I felt sick as I saw a look of pure pity splatter across Hitsugi's face. I don't want pity. I don't to be seen as a victim of my mother's death. I couldn't stand his sad eyes.

"Some people just can't cry" he whispered, so quiet I couldn't have easily mistaken it was a gust of wind.

He smirked "Bill The Duck, eh?"

"Tell me about you now" I ordered

Hitsugi shrugged his shoulders and repeated that he had spoken more than we today. I insisted on facts.

"Fact: I want to know if you want to watch a movie with dinner"

"That's not a fact" I scowled

"Technically it is. Film or no film? living room or dining room?"

I shrugged. "Movies good. But maybe it isn't. Sometimes when I watch a movie while I eat, food falls off my fork and I don't even realise."

Hitsugi smirked again and hummed. "Dining room today."

His head fell back to the paper and he returned to scribbling on it vigorously.

He scowled, folding my arms and tapping my foot in hopes of gaining his attention.

"Wheres my fact then, eh?"

Hitsugi looked back up, a small smile on my lips.

"Fact. I never had a toy duck named Bill" he sniggered.

I sat up straight, annoyed now at Hitsugi's inability to give a proper conversation.

"I want a real fact! Something interesting, not stupid!"

"It's a fact"

"It's a stupid fact!"

Hitsugi sighed. He sat back in his seat, fiddling with his pen with both hands. He sucked on his lip ring thoughtfully before finalling speaking.

"I have a peculiar obsession with cats" he said slowly, eyes on the ceiling.