Warning: This chapter contains violence (I know you guys will read it anyway...)

Tainted Glasses

Warmth. Peace. Safety. I couldn't remember the last time I'd felt that way. Even the scent was soothing, rich scent of sandalwood and unique smell that belonged to a person I knew very well.

When was the last time I'd not had a nightmare? I was aware that he was embracing me even before I'd opened my eyes. But what could I do? If I screamed and threw a fit, it would only get me to feel embarrassed and ashamed.

Slowly opening my eyes, I noticed that he was already staring at me. My heart skipped a beat, and I felt the heat rising in my cheeks. But I wasn't going to show that it affected me.

"Slept well?"

I kept staring.

"Are you hungry? Boy, I'm famished!"

I noticed how he gently took his arms from around me and stretched. He moved around, grabbing the chopsticks and the bowl of noodles sitting on the table. I'm sure they would've grown cold by now.

"I've got meat, unless you want to eat these bland noodles, hurry up and come here!"

I felt no hunger, heck, was my stomach still alive inside? I was surprised to see the hot air leaving the bowls, did I just sleep for a few minutes?

Sighing, he grabbed a bowl and walked over to me, sitting on the edge of the bed and blowing on the noodles on his chopsticks.

"Unless you want to stay hungry till the next, eat this."

He stared into my eyes and held them near my mouth. But I felt something revolt in my stomach, and I had a hard time wondering just how do I get myself to feel better again.

"Kyoko, do you wish to be fed mouth to mouth? I don't mind..."

What was he saying? Why do they sound so far away? Why can't I hear him clearly? What's wrong with me?

"KYOKO!"

I can hear his voice, muffled as if he was talking to underwater. It was fine just a moment ago, but the minute his body sat next to mine, thats when I started feeling like this.

"I'm disgusted to have you as my daughter! Take that you piece of shit!"

The sound of the whipping, slashing against my skin again and again, and the sound of my groans and moans could echo but no one would help.

"Who did you seduce today, huh? How many of them were they? Did they touch you one by one or all together at once?"

I could clearly remember the feeling of my skin burning when he used that rod to 'discipline' me, when I was nineteen years old.

Then I blacked out, thankful that I could no longer feel and hear them anymore.

"...she definitely needs a change of scenario, and I've assigned a therapist who would come everyday and try to help her out."

I felt a pounding headache, and my body felt heavy. I knew this feeling, it usually was the result of not having food for a long time.

I opened my eyes and found Kuon engaged in a serious conversation with the doctor, and the moment his eyes met mine, he stopped talking and ran over to me.

However, he stopped few steps away from me, hesitating as if the thought of being near me scared him so much that he would much rather stay away.

"How are you feeling now? Can you hear me?"

I felt something warm spread in my chest, and I felt tears well up in my eyes.

"H-how long...?"

"This time, luckily you slept only for a day, but I suggest you have something before you do anything. Here are some medicines."

I noticed how Kuon clenched his fist, and his eyes had bags underneath, he looked haggard for the first time since I've met him. It was surprising.

"Please call me if you need anything," with that the doctor left us alone. I couldn't understand what was going on his Kuon's mind, but I was sure he wasn't having pleasant thoughts.

"For how long has it been going on?"

"...pardon?" What was he asking me?

He cleared his throat, grabbed a chair and stared intently into my eyes.

"For how long have you been enduring this that it piled up and became a trauma?"

I turned my head to the other side, feeling something hot bubble up in my stomach, I felt my throat constrict and everything around me was closing.

"Please talk to me, I..."

I glanced at him, wondering why he was struggling to find words, why he cared so much all of a sudden.

I felt like laughing, it was so ironic. I wonder just how pitiful I must be looking for him to feel sorry for me.

"Alright, I won't press it. Let's have some food before anything else. You need to have medicines."

He took the bowl, much like he did yesterday, and I recognised the feeling in my chest. I hadn't known it before, but I knew it now. Disgust, panic, horror, and intense pain at the imaginary feeling of being hit again and again.

Before I'd knew it, they'd clouded my mind, and maybe that's why I couldn't hear his voice.

"I won't touch you without your consent, I promise. But please have this," he said, breaking me out of my thoughts. I hadn't even noticed that I was staring at him.

Nodding, I took the bowl and slowly sipping the soup, feeling guilty that he had to pay for all the times I didn't have the food and throw it away. I wonder what his expression would be if I told him that I did not want to eat. Ever.

Would his pity intensify? Would he be so horrified that he would leave me alone?

"Kyoko."

I raised my eyes into his worried ones. I guess his pity ran deeper than anything.

"I'm not going anywhere—if thats what you are thinking about. And you don't have to worry about anything, I'll take care of it."

Wow, was he for real, I can't believe this guy, did he do this to every girl he knew?

"Why are you laughing like that? Kyoko! Please, Kyoko, don't think something that isn't true," his panicked voice made me laugh even harder.

"Oh yeah?! It isn't true?! Tell me, why are you here? Why are you doing this? Are you waiting for me to heal then you would take advantage of me? Or are you pitying me so much that you feel compelled to do this?! Do I look pitiful to you?!"

He stepped closer, his hands almost embracing me, but he pulled them back, shaking his head violently, "No! No! I would never. Kyoko...I..."

He took a deep breath and looked straight into my eyes, "I love you, Kyoko. I really really love you, and have loved you for a very very long time."

I couldn't believe my ears. I grabbed his shirt, glaring into his eyes, "Are you kidding me? What kind of sick joke is this?"

He gently placed his warm palms over mine and stared so earnestly into my eyes that I doubted my impressions of him. "You have no idea just how hard I'm controlling myself, I want to take you into my arms, kiss all your worries and pain away. I am dying to hunt that man down and kill him over and over in different ways until he felt everything and more of what he did to you."

He released my hands as my grip loosened on his shirt, my heart thumping in my chest. This was the first time I heard anyone tell me that.

I gave him a tired look, "Trust me, you cannot do that. They all say that, until they face the situation where they have to prove their words and they fail to do so."

Kuon sighed, running his fingers through his hair, "And if I prove just what I am capable of, will you agree to marry me on the spot?"

I'm sure that the expression on my face was shocked enough to make him laugh like that.

Author's Note:

Hey people, I'm back? It took me ages and alot of research to find the right words and reactions, hope I'm not entirely off the track...

Yes, I am aware that this chapter was incredibly short if compared to my previous chapter, which is 5 times longer, but...well...I thought it was enough for now.

This will be a short project, hopefully done before this month ends, otherwise, there's always time ;-p

Please let me know your thoughts and suggestions.

Thank you guys for your dms, I was in tears to feel so valued, thank you so much!