*…..I don't even think an apology can even make up for this, and how long I have been away. Life has been bad, school, lots of writers block and no motivation. I have basically abandoned everything and for that….I do apologize. So if that means anything to you then….yeah. Well here you go.*

When Eve woke up her muscles ached. Her chest burned with a passion and her cheeks felt crusty and dry from crying. She coiled her fingers around her blanket and slowly opened her eyes. She cringed when she saw nothing but inky black and with a soft groan she slowly sat up.

"Hello?" she rasped, her voice hoarse.

The shoji screen opened and a figure appeared, one hand on the screen and the other on their waist.

"Ohayo gozaimasu." Shusaku said softly, his mask wrapped tightly around his face. "Did you…sleep well?"

Eve chuckled weakly but then her heart wrung with pain. "Yeah," she muttered. "Just fine."

Shusaku sighed and shuffled into the room, crouching down beside Eve. His eyes seemed to be clouded with a mixture of emotion, like he was contemplating something. Slowly and awkwardly he reached his arm out and wrapped it around Eve stiffly. "I know it must be hard, losing your…parents..." he said hesitantly. "But death is imminent, I'm afraid here there is always going to be death. Now, I know it is difficult but think of it like this: they are in a better place now. They are free. They have joined Ami—I mean—God up in…" he trailed off.

"Heaven," Eve said softly.

"Ah, yes, Heaven." He said hesitantly.

Eve gave a pained smile and nodded her head.

"But Eve," Shusaku said, his voice turning suddenly stern. "Revenge is never a good option, ever. Revenge often leads to more death, and more death leads to more revenge, and it becomes a never ending cycle."

Eve stared wide eyed at the man, her throat tightening. "So, you want me to just let whoever killed my parents to go free?" her voice cracked.

"I understand it's hard to accept but in the end, it will be better."

"They were like PARENTS TO ME!" she yelled, tears budding at her eyes. "I can't just FORGET about them!"

Shusaku seemed completely unfazed by her outburst. He didn't even flinch. "I know, but I'm not telling you to forget them, just to let them go." Shusaku squeezed Eve's arm gently and then pulled his own away, sitting down and setting it in his lap. "If you don't it will consume you—believe me—I know."

Eve stared at Shusaku through tear filled eyes; she could see the quick flash of pain in his before it disappeared, leaving only the original dark coloring.

"Shusaku," she sniffed. "I'm sorry."

He turned his head away, pretending he didn't hear her. "You must be hungry, I will grab you something." He stood up and quickly left into the next room.

Eve felt like objecting but instead she just sat there, to drained to do anything else. She felt like she wanted to just crawl back under the covers and never come out. But she knew she couldn't, she couldn't give up like this. Randy had always taught her to be strong, to persevere through any and everything. If she was to fulfill her role, why they had come here in the first place, she must pull through this. It wasn't an option.

And yet, here she sat heartbroken and defeated, sniveling like a little girl. She hated this, hated weakness, crying. If she was to be Queen, then she had to be strong and able to cope with anything. Though no matter how much she told herself that, it didn't make the pain any easier.

"Food is ready." Shusaku said from behind the screen.

Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, Eve attempted to steal herself. She slowly stood, her legs somewhat wobbly as she collected her heavy kimono material and entered the other room.

Shusaku was bent over, setting two bowls on the low dining table, when he looked up. His eyes were cool and collected for a second but once they saw what was in front of them, they widened greatly.

Shusaku took in a sharp breath and could feel a heavy blush creep up his neck and onto his face, once again thankful for his face being covered. His eyes quickly darted around the room, trying to find something else to stare at rather than…her.

Eve pursed lips, confused as why the man was acting so strangely. With a shrug she looked down to collect her kimono when she saw why Shusaku acted so strangely, she had no idea how she couldn't have noticed it. Her kimono had fallen off both of her shoulders, sliding down a considerate amount which was enough to reveal quite a lot of cleavage. The obi was tied loosely around her waist, barely keeping the material from sliding apart down the middle to reveal everything.

Her pale face flushed bright red, embarrassment washing over her for her lack of modesty. She quickly fidgeted with the material, desperately trying to fix it and salvage what little dignity she had left.

"Oh, um, haha, I-I…s-sorry about that." She laughed nervously, looking away.

Shusaku cleared his throat as to clear the tension in the air and Eve took it as an invitation to sit down at the table and take her food. She sipped softly at the soup, the warm liquid feeling good on her soar and dry throat.

An awkward silence stretched between them for what seemed like forever, neither one not knowing what to say. Though in truth there wasn't much too really say, or rather, that either one of them could say.

When Eve finished she gently set her bowl down, keeping her gaze to the floor. She heard the quiet clink of Shusaku's bowl as well and she shifted nervously.

Shusaku kept his gaze on his bowl but he slowly brought it up to Eve's face, though she wouldn't look back at him. He took in a small breath to say something when Eve cut him off.

"Thank you for your hospitality but I must be on my way." She said stiffly, as if she was being forced to read something from a script. She stood up and gave a small bow, still not meeting his gaze she left the hut, not looking back to see Shusaku shake his head dejectedly and watch his shoulders slowly slump in defeat.