Chapter 2: The wiser man, is often the older man.

Murasaki began to stir and opened her eyes. She started to panic realizing that this was not her apartment. She started to breath deeply trying to calm herself down whilst looking around. The apartment was clean, not totally dust-free exactly but to a certain standard was good enough to her.

"Ah, you're awake. I was starting to get worried." a familiar voice sounded behind her.

She panicked and turned around in shock. A man was sitting behind her, a newspaper in his lap with a cup of coffee on the small table to the right side of him. She looked at him, but there was no panic in her eyes anymore, she felt strangely calm.

This man blatantly doesn't want to hurt me, otherwise he would have done so... I guess I also have him to thank for saving me yesterday.

"And who do I have the pleasure of addressing, Mr...?"

The man smiled, "Call me Neiyo, please. I should be asking you the same question, Miss?"

She blushed a little at the good manners, "O-Oh, ah my name is Murasaki. Murasaki Yatsu."

He nodded, "Well Miss Yatsu, you certainly got into a bit of a pickle yesterday. How are you feeling?" Why do I feel so strange when I'm near this girl. She looks almost half my age, but I can't help but feel... drawn to her. I haven't felt like this since... He quickly shook his head hearing her reply.

"Then I have you to thank. I was on my way home and they jumped me. I don't know what their intentions were but none of them good blatantly."

"Mention nothing of it," he motioned, "I was created to help those who cannot help themselves." Shit, I should not have said that!

"...created?" Murasaki muttered. "Pardon my intrusion, but what do you mean?"

Neiyo sighed, too late to realize that he couldn't revert the mistake he made. "Well, I've made by bed, I guess I better lie in it. But first, I need to ask you a question." Murasaki nodded as if to accept the proposal made to her, awaiting the question.

"What do you think of me right now?" What do I... think of him? What does he mean by that? Do I like him... or how do I see him? She started looking at him more closely, the left side of his face was hidden by a shadow, and only his right eye, shaded in a hazel colour was visible. He also had a small scar over his eye as if from a previous fight or accident.

She thought carefully about what she was going to say for a moment. "I'm sorry, but that's a very loaded question to put on someone after just meeting." "Understandable. The reason I ask, is because, in order to explain who I am, I need to know how you feel." He sat forward for a moment and took a drink from his coffee. "I... I guess I like you. I mean, you haven't done anything bad to me otherwise you would have done so. You saved be yesterday so I owe you for that. And you are, from what I can see, a handsome man."

This reply seemed to tick all Neiyo's applied boxes. Neiyo sat forward again, this time revealing all his face from the shadow. "Ha... have you ever loved someone before?" She was shocked by the bluntness of the question, slowly shaking her head as her reply. He sat backward into his chair, "Do you think you could love a man such as me?"

This almost felt like interrogation to Murasaki. On one side, she felt like she had to answer him, but on the other side she felt like questioning it. She studied him for a moment. Overall he was a good looking man, and had the looks of a man most would die for. She felt her heart wrench for a moment. Her brain suddenly realized that this man had saved her from something vile and treated her more humanly than even her father did.

"Maybe I could. I don't really know you though, maybe a date?" she propositioned.

Neiyo smiled, a change from his serious face for once. "That sounds fair. I guess I can't complain given the situation."

She didn't give me a straight answer, but didn't decline it either... Neiyo thought to himself.

He had been looking for his Ashikabi for a while now, sometimes believing it to be a joke as his searching had come back empty every night up till now. As she got up and he gestured a seat he felt his heart pound, and his body slowly become more heated. Well, one thing's for sure. I am definitely reacting to this girl.

Neiyo had originally offered her a place to sleep but Murasaki rejected it politely and said she would meet him at the Shun-Kei restaurant in the city center at eight the following night. He agreed and said he looked forward to it. Murasaki decided to go the city route home, not taking any shortcuts this time (she vowed to never take one again).

As nighttime crept into the day, she started to feel sleepy and retired for the night. She found it incredibly difficult to sleep. The same image of Neiyo coming up in her mind the whole time. Why am I still thinking about this guy? I know nothing about him and this date will probably just be a means to an end. Eventually she drifted off to sleep and found herself waking up to her alarm the next day.

8pm the next day day.

Murasaki arrived first at the restaurant, sitting at the table she had booked for them. She waited for five minutes then began to wonder if he was going to turn up. She turned to her left to watch the entrance of the restaurant as a tall figure showed up, in a black suit and smart shoes, almost boot like but short. The waiter directed him to the table that Murasaki was sitting at and he sat down.

"Sorry I'm late, something came up that I had to take care of." Neiyo smiled apologetically.

"It's alright, but I was on the verge of leaving if you hadn't turned up." she remarked.

I'll have to remember the short patience she has then, Neiyo noted to himself.

The two ordered their respective meals and began their evening getting to know each other. Murasaki had noticed that Neiyo didn't give a surname when he introduced himself, I wonder why... does he even have one? She was not about to ask him an intrusive question such as that, especially when they had just started.

They began speaking about their lives, and Murasaki started describing her father, always working with very little effort made to care for her besides giving her an allowance for a place to stay and eat. Neiyo motioned that at least he gave her that. "It could be worse." he opinioned. Murasaki didn't deny him that, it could've been. In that regard she was lucky, she just wished she could see him more often. "Could be far worse", he continued looking slightly glum with himself.

She finally questioned Neiyo on his upbringing. It was actually pretty heart wrenching for her. He had a tough life, alone and forced to fight for his own life but slowly began to help those who needed help like she had needed him. Neiyo had grown up on his own after his mother had passed away due to an accident which he relented to explain. I feel like telling her the real me, but I can't... what if she rejects me? "I grew up like a street kid, I hung out with the wrong crowd then realized I wasn't normal."

His face slowly showed redness, indicating it was a touchy subject but also felt to Murasaki as if she had saw an inner Neiyo, like there was an interior personality, caring and emotional rather than the butch defender as he had introduced himself as. Murasaki sat back after leaning forward intently listening; I get the feeling there is more to him, but half of me wishes to be beside him forever, but the other half, more my common sense half doesn't wan't to get involved with him.

He isn't telling me something, but I can't force it out of him. They both sat there for another hour discussing events and lives of those they cared about. Murasaki told him of her father again who she did love but wished she'd spend more time with him. Neiyo took it as his opportunity to be honest with the girl.

"I have to be honest with you. How old do you think I am?" he asked.

"I- Uh, roughly... twenty-five?" The scarlet eyed girl replied.

Neiyo chuckled at the answer; "Unfortunately I'm older, actually I'm about forty." Her eyes widened with shock a bit. "F-forty?" she asked.

Neiyo nodded his head, a bit depressed with having to admit his age. "I-I'm sorry, I knew that was something stupid to admit to... I wish I had never said it." Neiyo was about to get up and walk out of embarrassment but Murasaki grabbed his left forearm.

"I never said it was something stupid. You look far younger than you are. Almost makes me jealous." Murasaki tried to make him feel better.

Why do I care for this man so much? I never would have said that if I found out an older guy tried to take me out...

"Very kind of you. But there is something else... something far greater to worry about in your case actually."

The silver haired warrior began. He hesitated, "I... I have a daughter. A bit older than you by the looks of things." he admitted. "Do-does that make it something stupid to admit?"

Murasaki wasn't as shocked as Neiyo thought she would be. The blue haired girl merely looked into the man's eyes. He sat their opposite in almost, fear of what her reaction would be. She simply smiled. "I don't really have a problem with that. What your past is, is yours to tell when you're ready."

What the hell was that I just said?! He has a daughter now too?! and is older than my age!? This is not going to go down well. Yet... I'm still drawn to him. Am I starting to love this man? Is this what love feels like?

Neiyo smiled, slightly leaning back into his chair with relief. "Look, I think the restaurant is about to close to let's pay and continue this another time?" Mura piped up. Neiyo nodded in agreement with a smile. They decided to part ways after leaving the restaurant. Murasaki had to clear her head in understanding of what she felt that evening. Neiyo had similar priorities but didn't seem to know how to react to them, what to do. They both tried to sleep that night, failing miserably.

END OF CHAPTER 2

A/N: Unfortunately the next chapter will be pretty slow, but short also. I'm just trying to introduce how their personalities are slowly but surely. And I apologize if those of you who are reading it want to get into it faster and quicker. I will also take in any suggestions from reviews. Peace out!