I've been living on my own for the past three years all by lonesome, so it took a while to get use to the fact that I had people living with me. But once I got accustomed to it, I found myself looking forward to talking to the duo or simply being in their presence each day. Them being here brought my house to life in a way- it brightened up the place and made the cottage look like someone actually lived in it. I enjoyed myself and the fact that I didn't need to hide myself in front of those two, even allowing them to peek at my face whenever ate on occasion. My heart felt lightened at the fact that they never brought up how I looked beneath it, too. So when the day came for them to leave, you could imagine how discontent I was. But I had to real with myself- those two couldn't stay with me forever, no matter how bad I wanted for them to.

We were currently walking through the woods on a forest trail leading to Morinoya, chatting amongst ourselves and observing the woods and its inhabitants. I was currently wearing a white t-shirt with a black long-sleeved under armor shirt beneath it along with jeans and combat boots. The duo a little ways behind me was sporting some hand me down t-shirts and hiking pants that I grew out of a couple of year back as I picked up some muscle. I told them how I tried to wash the clothing that they came to my house wearing on hand and how everything came out just fine except for the blood stains. Noiz had made a rather sexist remark me about washing clothing on hand to which I retorted about how he was a walking pin cushion that probably couldn't wash a load of clothing by any conventional method anyway. Aoba had to keep us apart to prevent any fist fights from breaking out. I mouthed, "I would've won," to which the blond flipped me the bird.

I stretched my arms above me and folded them behind me with a masked smile. I am so going to miss these interactions.

I must've voiced my thoughts aloud for I heard a voice pipe up beside me saying, "Then you should come and visit us at Midorijima, Kain!"

I let out a rather manly yelp as I flinched and put down my arms. Looking beside me, I saw its owner looking rather startled before his brown eyes filled with mirth at my actions. Soon laughter bubbled out from his lips, making me pout from beneath my mask. I glanced at Noiz and was a bit peeved to see him smirking in my direction. Embarrassed, I continued to walk down the path without any heed to the duo behind me. A moment passed before I heard footsteps follow behind me. Once the blue haired man's laughter died down, he walked closer to me and continued his statement from earlier.

"But, really though! You should come back to Midorijima and visit from time to time," Aoba said, bumping my shoulder with his, "It's just a ferry ride away after all."

I was silent for a short while, "contemplating" his offer. In reality, however, there was no way in hell I was going back to that place. Especially after all the shit that I've been through there.

If I go, all that effort put into leaving that place might be futile...

Suddenly, my thoughts shift gears.

But what about him?

My precious person- my savior... My guiding light...

"Maybe," I answered after a while, directing my eyes up at the branches of the trees hanging overhead.

"Took you long enough to decide," Noiz interjected from beside Aoba.

"Yeah," the brown eyed male agreed, "Do you not like us enough to visit?"

I could hear the mischievousness in his voice. With a hidden grin, I played along.

"Well, I mean... You guys are okay to be around, I guess," I said while scratching my bandanna clad head, "I admit, you guys could've been better."

That comment earned me a playful swat on the arm. I chuckled good heartily.

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After a bit, we had arrived at the outskirts of the "Home of the Woods", Morinoya. It was with a heavy heart when I gave them my goodbyes. Aoba had handed me his number so I could ring him up whenever I felt up to visiting Midorijima or just to simply talk. I took it with a smile, but inwardly I knew that I wasn't going to leave to go there anytime. Something drastic will have to happen here, making it imperative for me to leave Morinoya. So soon, I found myself walking all by my lonesome back home. I contemplated tree hopping, but today was a rather beautiful day and I wasn't in any rush to go home now that it was empty of people except me.

Maybe I should ring up Aeron or Adara...? I thought to myself as meandered down the winding trail. Wait, Athan said that they were on a assignment, so it wouldn't do anyone any good to call them while they're busy. What about Athan? ...Nah, I'm going to see him in a couple of days anyway, so lets save that conversation for later.

I frowned as my options dwindled lower and lower.

Manzo? My heart surged at the mention of talking to him. A rather girlish giggle escaped my lips. ...Nope, he's probably super busy doing SMA stuff. He is the head of the Organization of Deviantic Welfare after all.

I sighed.

Damn I really need some more friends.

I looked at the trees as I was suddenly reminded of Aoba's invitation to visit him at Midorijima. My eyebrows furrowed at the mention of that island. If it wasn't for the fact that Bluey lived there of all places, I would've taken him up on that offer without a hesitation. My eyes clouded as memories came forth from my time there. Each and every single one of them was marred with pain, suffering, and a longing for something long gone; there was barely anything that I missed on that island. Well, excluding a certain someone. The oppressive air around me lightened at the thought of him. If it wasn't for him, I'll still be there in that cold dark place, probably nothing more than a shell of a deviant. I haven't heard from him ever since I've left from Midorijima when I was nineteen.

It's been four years, Gramps... Thioriginell knows that I miss you.

Green eyes framed by glasses narrowed in thought.

Maybe visiting for a couple of days won't do any harm. I've escaped from there five years ago anyway. They shouldn't be still searching for me right? He should have lost interest in me long ago...

My face twisted in worry.

Right?

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{AN: Bye bye Aoba and Noiz! We won't be seeing you two for a long long while (At least according to my note that can change at any minute *wink-wink-nudge-nudge*... Jk, you ain't gonna be seeing Aobooty or Pincushion for a while). Enjoy the double update~

So see you on the next update!