Bleach: Goldilocks Ch. 13

Chapter 13: Bury the Castle

Recommended Song: "Brick by Boring Brick" by Paramore

Marise looked up at Ginjō, her blue eyes wide with fear, her heart palpitating. Her eyes went to the necklace he held. "That…?" she began.

He smirked at her, taking pleasure in the fear he instilled in her, the spikes in her weak spiritual pressure. "This is what I pull the soul out of," he finished for her, swinging the Saltire pendant in front of her eyes.

She swallowed the lump in her throat. What could his Fullbring possibly be? She had a sinking feeling that it wouldn't be like Riruka or Yukio's…

The rest of the Xcution members stood around, expressions solemn. Jackie had her arms crossed and watched her leader with a close eye. She glanced at Giriko who was doing the same. Kūgo had stopped Yukio and Riruka from going too far with Marise, but she and Giriko both knew that he wouldn't show any mercy to the girl with blonde curls. There was a look of contempt in his eyes whenever he looked at the girl…they had to keep a close watch on him.

"W-what's your Fullbring?" she asked, voice barely above a whisper.

Kūgo's smile faded and his brown eyes glimmered. "Cross of Scaffold." Mari flinched when the X-shaped pendant began to transform, shooting down to form an enormous blade. Kūgo held the large sword over his shoulder, the hilt was long and went up into a guard that he placed his hand through.

Mari opened her mouth then closed it again, slowly shaking her head. She didn't want to go up against a sword! "I…I think I'd rather go back to training with Yukio or Riruka," she said weakly.

"It doesn't matter what you'd rather do," he said darkly. "I'm going to beat your Fullbring out of you."

N-no!

He lifted the large Claymore with both hands and with an animalistic cry slammed it onto the ground, missing Mari purposely, to give her a little warning.

"Are you crazy?" she screamed, heart beating out of her chest.

"Maybe," Kūgo replied, grinning at her. The grin faded and his eyes narrowed. "You better fight or run, girl."

Because Mari couldn't do the former she chose to run, getting up and taking off. She wasn't going to take this. She couldn't do this! He was coming after her like a serial killer, sadistic grin on his face and a flash of fire in his eyes. Mari turned back as she ran, blonde curls flying behind her as she caught a glance at his face…she wanted to scream.

"I don't want to do this anymore!" she cried, tears pricking at her eyes. She looked around at the other Xcution members for assistance, but they turned away, guilt in their eyes. Was no one going to help her?

"Stop running, Mari!" Kūgo barked. "Fight back!"

"But I can't!" she stopped and turned around, holding up her gun. She tried firing, but it still wouldn't work. "It's not fair, Ginjō! My gun won't work!"

But Ginjō didn't care. He didn't give a damn. He lifted his sword and slammed it against her gun, knocking it out of her hand. She winced in pain, holding her wrist, which he had bent with the force from the impact.

She picked up the gun and looked helplessly at Ginjō, who grinned wildly at her.

"Where's your fantasy now, stupid girl?" he yelled. "You can't get out of this one!" He lunged forward, bringing his sword down, aiming straight for Mari. Her eyes widened and she tried to dodge, though she cried in pain when the sharp blade sliced her cheek, skimming through the soft flesh. Her fingers went to her skin and she felt the warm blood drip down her hand and onto the floor.

This wasn't a game…she wasn't playing House anymore with Riruka or Cooking Mama with Yukio…

This was all too real.

Mari tried to run again, though Ginjō was too quick and slammed the side of his blade into her back, sending her flying through a brittle wall. She was outside in an alley, covered in debris and bricks, faintly looking into the gaping hole where Ginjō stood inside the bar.

She tried getting up, but winced in pain. Her left arm…it was broken or fractured, she could barely move it. She clenched her teeth and tears mixed with fear, anger, and hopelessness spilled over her eyes. Why wouldn't anyone help her? What was she supposed to do? Run away until she'd collapse from exhaustion, and then let that sick psychopath kill her in cold blood?

Marise shrieked in frustration taking her right arm and slamming the revolver over and over onto a brick, wanting to break it for being so useless. "This…stupid…thing!" she screeched, eyes clouded with tears.

I HATE THIS, I HATE THIS, I HATE THIS!

Sobbing in defeat, she laid back against the debris, closing her eyes, letting nostalgia sweep over her.

---

A young Marise came to sit on her mother's lap after receiving her Christmas present. She wore a frilly pink dress and her hair was curlier than ever, with innocent blue eyes and rosy cheeks. Though her cheeks were stained with tears as she held up the gift that was from her father, something she hadn't expected.

"What is this Mama?" she asked.

Her mother smiled at her, with sadness, patting her on the head. "It's a gift."

The little girl scrunched up her nose, sniffling. Was it normal for a five-year old to receive a gun as a gift? She would have at least thought her father would have given such a thing to her two-year old brother; at least he was a boy. But what was this? She shivered in feeling the cold silver in her hand. She wasn't supposed to be holding this. She held it up to her mother, eyes pleading for her to take it away.

Lucille just smoothed a hand over her hair, pulling her close. "Do you remember the stories I read to you?" she whispered in her daughter's ear. "About castles and princesses and dragons?"

Marise nodded.

"And who did you like the most?"

Mari looked up with a dimpled grin. "I liked the knight the best. He's cool and strong."

"Why was he strong?"

Young Mari raised her hand in the air. "Because he had a sword to fight with!"

Lucille nodded. "And something to protect." She gestured at the gun. "This? This is like your sword, Marise. Now all you need is something to protect."

"I wanna protect you, Mama."

Lucille smiled, holding her now asleep daughter. She carefully carried the sleeping girl in her arms and into her room, tucking her into bed. Lucille turned off the light and went downstairs, where her husband was cleaning up after the Christmas party had ended.

"Tot's asleep?" he asked, stuffing paper cups and plates into a black trash bag.

Lucille gave a curt nod, crossing her arms. "Why did you give that to her? I'm sure she would have much preferred a doll or something Hello Kitty-related." Marise began to wear a pink bow in her hair because of the iconic cat.

Her husband shrugged. "Thought it was the right time."

The woman snorted, "Right time? Five years old is what you consider 'the right time?' I didn't know you were such an idiot, Sou."

"There's no need to be so upset, Luce."

Tears stung at her eyes. "Shut up!" she seethed. "Don't try to force your past on my children. We're going to live normal lives, all of us!"

"We're not a normal family, Lucille."

---

Marise looked up at the clear blue sky, the memory slowly fading away. She knew nothing of what happened after she had fallen asleep, only that her mother had told her it was all a fairy tale.

"Where's your fantasy now, Mari?"

She looked up to see Ginjō grinning at her and she clenched her teeth. She wanted to spit in his face, to wipe that stupid smile from it… Marise groaned in pain as she forced herself to get up, hand on her left arm, the one that was injured. Blood dripped from the cuts on her face and her clothes were ripped in places from when she had crashed through the wall.

Marise breathed heavily as she took heavy steps forward, gun in her right hand. She licked her dry, cracked lips and stood feet away from Ginjō and Xcution. "This," she began, holding up her gun. "Is my fantasy!" she shrieked, her voice breaking. In a fit of anger she slammed her arm down, activating her Fullbring.

The other Fullbringers watched in fascination as a silver blade protruded from the tip of Mari's revolver. The red string that was once wrapped around Mari's left pinky was now surrounding the silver blade, floating in mid-air around it.

Mari was equally as surprised as she held up her gun blade, watching it shimmer under the sun. Words glimmered on it, appearing one moment then disappearing the next.

Fantasy…Reality…Truth…Lie.

Ginjō's lips curled into a grin. "Finally," he murmured. "Well done, Marise," he called out to her. She looked up at him, bitterness in her eyes. "Shall we test out your Fullbring?"

She didn't answer or give any gesture, but she was ready. Technically, she wasn't really 'ready,' because she had no idea what her Fullbring did, but she had no choice.

And she was no longer afraid.

Her opponent charged at her and she raised her gun blade, as metal clanged to metal. Mari winced in pain as she slid back, her left arm was still injured and she had to fight using only her right arm, and the weapon wasn't exactly light. But she was faring off better than she was before, better than when she was in Riruka's Dollhouse and in Yukio's video game. Here she felt she had more control…because this was her fantasy.

Kūgo now took Marise more seriously, noticing the change in her demeanor, from fear to strength. As he charged at her again and brought his blade to hers, he told her, "We're going to have to work on your physical strength, Mari. Your Fullbring is more similar to mine in that you have an actual weapon. But you're weak. We need to build up your strength."

Mari nodded, this she knew was true. She didn't exactly have stamina, as seen with her running skills, but she did have some abilities. She used her dancing skills to her advantage, sweeping underneath Ginjō in a graceful stride, tripping him. She caught him off guard and prepared to attack him, though he blocked her sword, still having the upper hand.

Mari breathed heavily, trying to calculate the situation and what her next battle move would be. Her eyes widened when she noticed the hot pink energy that radiated from her for the first time. "What's this?" she asked, turning to Kūgo.

"That's your spiritual pressure," he explained. "Everyone has it, although some are more prominent than others. Now that you've awakened your Fullbring, your Reiatsu has increased. This is good."

She furrowed her brows together in concentration and looked at her weapon. This was more than just a sword…the gun must serve some purpose. If she couldn't fire it in its unreleased form, maybe she could… Marise raised her gun blade, pointing it at Ginjō, and channeled her energy through the gun, firing Reiatsu-bullets at him.

It was Ginjō's turn to be surprised as multiple bullets of pink-fire came at him. He easily dodged them though and they flew behind, and the other Xcution members cried complaints.

"Go fight outside!" shouted Riruka. "Or you'll destroy this whole place!"

Ginjō raised a hand to silence her, grinning. "No, this is fantastic. There must be so much more than this to your Fullbring, Marise."

She winced in response, shaking her head. She was trying everything, but she couldn't even scratch this guy! What could she do? He was physically stronger than her and it seemed that all her Fullbring relied on was that, physical strength…which she didn't have much of. It was unfair…everything looked hopeless to her.

However, like with all things in her life that she didn't want to believe, Mari shut her eyes and thought about a fairytale, just to change her reality. Memories of her mother reading stories to her at night came to mind, specifically Little Red Riding Hood, one of her favorites.

"Once upon a time," she began, murmuring to herself, "there was a little girl who lived in a forest. She wore a red cloak, and everyone called her Little Red Riding Hood…"

Ginjō furrowed his brows in confusion. Huh?

"What the hell is she doing?" snorted Riruka, hands on her hips. "Is it story time or something?"

"Her mother sent her to take a basket of goodies to her grandma's house…"

"Marise? Marise, what are you doing?" Ginjō asked, bewildered.

"She was picking flowers in the woods and didn't notice a dark shadow creep up behind her…"

Kūgo's eyes widened as he noticed that a transluscent shield engulfed him and Marise. The Xcution members came and Riruka pounded on the shield, trying to yell, though Ginjō couldn't hear anything she or the others were saying. They were probably trying to warn him to end this training session, as her Fullbring might be dangerous.

But Ginjō wanted to see more. He was fascinated.

Mari stopped her chant and opened her eyes, meeting Kūgo's. "What…did I do?" she whispered. She looked down in surprise; the blade from her gun was slowly being transformed into a golden key jutting out from the silver gun.

"Marise. Look."

She looked up and followed his gaze at the door that looked like an exit to the dome they were inside of. She went over and inserted the key into the door, expecting to walk outside back into the alley again. But as she opened the door a swirling vortex sucked both her and Ginjō inside.

Marise screamed and tried to resist, but Ginjō grabbed her hand and allowed them to be sucked inside the fantasyland.

And then everything went black.

---

Marise grunted as she got up, trying to look at her surroundings, though her eyes took a few moments to adjust. The first thing she noticed was that her arm was no longer hurting, she was…fine. The next thing she saw was that everything had changed. Her eyebrows rose in surprise, she was lying on a soft bed of grass, and there were trees around and above her along with a clear blue sky.

She lifted herself up and noticed the basket she held in her hand. Lifting the red-and-white checkered cloth she saw the baked goods and jars of jam inside.

Wait a minute… She thought, knitting slender brows together. Looking down at herself her entire wardrobe changed again, from the white tank top and hot pink jeans she wore before to a peasant dress with a black corset, red tutu skirt and white thigh-high stockings. She wore a red cloak with the hood over her blonde curls and scrunched up her nose. First she was an Alice, and now this? She wasn't sure how she felt about all these costume changes…

Marise looked around, biting her bottom red lip. She must be in a dense forest, because she couldn't see anything for miles. And what happened to Ginjō? They had fallen in together, but he was nowhere around. "It's…like a LaLa land," she murmured, looking at the all too perfect and serene forest.

She took a few steps, shoes cracking over fallen leaves and twigs; she jumped at every single noise, waiting for someone to pop out of a bush. She held her basket in the crook of her left arm and held her gun blade, which had returned to the way it was, in the other.

Her heart nearly leapt out of her chest when Ginjō jumped out of a bush in front of her. She shrieked in fear, raising a shaky finger, pointing at him. "Wh-what happened to you?"

He looked even scarier with gray whiskers, ears, and a tail, and the sharpest teeth Mari had ever seen…he was the wolf!

He raised his arms, showing her his long claws and cackled, "This is an incredible ability, Mari!"

Mari trembled. "M-maybe you can explain it to me, because I don't get it at all…" she stammered, hoping he would lunge at her and try to rip her flesh apart.

He took steps closer to her and for each one he took she took one back, and began to explain her Fullbring. "Everything in your life is a fantasy, because you made it out to be. Your Fullbring allows you to transport us to a fairytale world, what you before called, 'LaLa land.' This is a children's tale, isn't it? I'm curious to find if you are able to insert us into any fairytale you choose. It's...like a dream isn't it?" He smiled at her, though Mari had doubts as to whether it was genuine or not. "What do you think your Fullbring should be called?

The name just came into her mind, and she blurted, "Castles in the Air."

He nodded approvingly. "Ah, very fitting." Her heart rejoiced at being praised although it sank when his expression changed to blistering fury and he charged at her.

"W-w-wait, what are you doing?" she cried as she began to run. "I thought you said we just wanted to bring out my Fullbring, and I did, so why are you still attacking me? Aren't we done? Isn't it over?"

"No!" he snarled, holding up a claw. "It's never over! It's not over until I see you lying on the ground in a pool of blood!"

"What?" she gasped, wrapping her cloak tighter around her neck. She tried to pick up her pace to run from him, but she didn't know where to go.

Ah, Grandma's house! She thought, breaking into a smile. If she followed the story she would be safe, right? She quickly went through the forest, not noticing that Ginjō was no longer behind her.

She finally saw the small cottage ahead and sighed in relief, running up to it, bursting through the door. "Grandma, I'm here!" she called out, walking into the room. She went into the bedroom and saw a sleeping figure under the covers. "Grandma," she said softly, walking over. "I brought some goodies…" She lifted the covers and shrieked.

It wasn't her Grandma. It was Ginjō the wolf, dressed as her.

Mari dropped her basket, and turned to run again, and he was right on her tail. She bit her bottom lip and looked behind. It wasn't fair that he was running so fast because of his new strength…why did her Fullbring give her enemies an advantage, when she as Little Red had none? What could she do?

She couldn't take it anymore. She was frightened. Tears streamed down her cheeks and she hastily wiped them away, trying to hold in her sobs.

Sh-Shinji… She couldn't help but silently call for him to protect her, thinking of him as her eyes went to the red string of fate around the blade of her gun. She wanted this fairytale to end…no…it wasn't a fairytale. It was a nightmare.

The gears in her mind turned. How did fairytales end? How did her mother end each and every story she read to her as a child?

"I…I want to live happily ever after!"

That was all it took to trigger the end of LaLa Land, turning everything back to normal. Marise was back in her normal clothing next to Kūgo in the Xcution headquarters, and she winced as the pain shot back in her left arm. Apparently it had only disappeared in her fantasy, when she wanted it to. But now she was back in reality.

Ginjō, hysterical, and with crazed eyes, lunged at Marise, hands around her throat. She fell back onto the floor and coughed, trying to remove his hands, to scream, but all air was cut off and she struggled to breath.

Giriko and Jackie ran to pull him off of Marise, though he resisted.

"Ginjō, stop!" yelled Jackie, grabbing hold of his arm.

"No!" he shrieked, eyes never leaving his blonde prey. "I want to wipe that angelic innocence off her face! I want her to tremble and scream for mercy!"

Mari scooted back away from him, hands at her bruised throat, trying to steady her ragged breathing. Why did he hate her so much? What had she done to deserve this?

Riruka turned away from the scene, eyes cast down. She shook her head bitterly. She hasn't had to suffer like we have. Her whole life has been a fairytale.

Yukio looked up at Riruka from his game, eyes filled with understanding.

Marise, with wide eyes, looked at every single member, realization sweeping over her. She didn't know anything about these people, their pasts, who they were…

What have they been through?

---

Marise ignored the stares from people as she walked through town, having just left the Xcution headquarters, promising to come again to train with them. She was still frightened of Ginjō, but she couldn't run away anymore, couldn't deny reality. She was one of them. She was a Fullbringer.

She couldn't go home like this…her clothes were all torn, hair a mess, bruises and cuts and an arm that could be broken. So Marise went to the only place she knew she could.

Orihime opened the door and gasped, hand flying up to cover her mouth. "Oh…Mari-chan," she breathed. She grabbed her hand. "Please, come inside."

Marise didn't resist and followed her obediently. She sat down as Orihime ordered her to on the floor of her living room and Orihime sat across from her, summoning her fairies to begin the healing process.

For a few moments there was only a companionable silence, but Mari felt curiosity eating away at her. "So…" she began, eyes fixed on the small fairy at the bottom end of the shield that was healing her left arm, "Are you a Fullbringer?"

Orihime smiled at her, shaking her head. "I don't believe I am…Urahara-san and Yoruichi-san have told me that my powers aren't very Hollow-like. What about you? Are you a Fullbringer?"

Mari was a little surprised to hear those two names, wondering how much more Orihime knew than her. Bitterness fell into her heart…Orihime always seemed to be ahead of her. Mari looked away. "…Yeah."

Orihime nodded in understanding and pulled away. "Okay," she sighed. "I think your arm is healed, I didn't feel any broken bones. Just don't put too much pressure on it. And your cuts are almost completely healed, they'll be gone in a couple of days."

Mari's hands went to her throat, fingers lightly skimming over the bruised skin. "What about this?" she asked, panic hitting her. "Can't you make this go away?"

Orihime shook her head. "I'm sorry, Mari-chan, unfortunately I can't. I can make the pain go away but the mark will still be there."

"Oh, but you have to at least try!" Mari pleaded. How was she going to hide this from her family? What would Shinji say when he saw it?

Orihime looked at her helplessly. I'm so sorry, but I can't do anything else."

Silence followed.

---

Soichiro sat with his old friend, Kurosaki Isshin, in a near empty bar, having a couple of drinks and good laughs, discussing the good old days.

"Sou, I hope your wife doesn't come crashing in hear and scratch my eyes out," Isshin teased, chuckling, before he took a drink of beer.

Soichiro rolled his eyes. "Hey, Masaki was no better," he retorted, referring to his friend's diseased wife. He felt no guilt, because Isshin didn't want him to, he talked about Masaki all the time with no remorse. Death was inevitable. It happened.

Isshin grinned, nodding. "Yeah… And that girl of yours, she sure is something. You actually told her that gun was from your grandfather from World War II?" Isshin laughed as he said this.

"Hey, I couldn't think of anything else," Soichiro scowled. "You're as brutal as ever…Kurosaki-taichō."

---

Shinji got out of school as the last bell rang, school bag slung over his shoulder. He had noticed some peculiar things over the past few weeks, Riruka and Yukio had dropped out of school, and Mari had also changed…she had become more focused, didn't talk much, and left straight after school, not heading to the ice cream shop with him as they usually did.

I wonder if she's ignorin' me again. Although he didn't know what he could have done wrong…then again, Mari took any gesture or action offensively, so he could have done something without realizing it.

Orihime came out and stood next to him, watching Mari head to the abandoned bar, knowing full well where she was going and what she would be doing. "Please be safe," she whispered, breeze flowing through her long auburn hair.

Shinji raised an eyebrow, looking at her. "Ya know where she goes?"

Brown eyes widened. "O-oh, Hirako-kun! She didn't tell you?"

His eyes narrowed. "Didn't tell me what?"

Orihime wondered if she should tell him or not. Hmm…Mari-chan and Hirako-kun are very close, if he doesn't know then it's probably because Mari doesn't want him to know… "Umm…I think she goes to the ice cream shop after school, she really loves that stuff, doesn't she?" Orihime laughed, though sounded far from convincing.

Shinji scowled, he didn't want to force it out of the girl though. But he was worried because her spiritual pressure would disappear for a few hours each day.

He hated that she was keeping secrets from him.

---

Mari held up her gun blade, panting, sweat at her brow. Across from her was her opponent for that day, Jackie Tristan, who was using her Fullbring, Dirty Boots.

"I'm so tired!" Mari whined. "Can't we stop?"

Jackie rolled her eyes. "I suppose so. You look like you're about to collapse."

"Hey, she lasted longer than she did last week," Kūgo chuckled, sitting on the couch, taking a sip of wine. "We can call it quits for today."

"Is this all you do?" Mari scowle.d "You guys don't have any fun! All you guys do is play your stupid video game," she pointed to Yukio, "Clean your spotless wine glasses," she pointed to Giriko, "Or stare at fluffy animal freaks!" she lastly pointed at Riruka, who stuck her tongue out at her.

Ginjō shrugged. "What else is there to do?"

Mari tapped a finger against her chin and foot on the ground, thinking. "Ah! I got it!" she exclaimed. "Bowling!"

Bowling?

---

While Xcution had been adamantly opposed to the idea, the members were having fun surprisingly enough. Giriko proved to be the best bowler and Riruka whooped in cheers at their team being in the lead.

Marise trembled as she held her bowling ball to play, Ginjō yelling behind her.

"If you lose this for us I'm going to have your head!" he threatened, angry that Mari was making them lose.

Mari turned to him. "D-don't put pressure on me!" she cried. She narrowed her eyes in concentration and pulled her arm back, letting the heavy bowling ball go and roll, though hse completely missed and it instead rolled into the other lane, landing a strike.

Mari's jaw dropped as Giriko's team cheered in delight.

"Yay, we won!" Riruka exclaimed, pumping her fist in the air.

Ginjō got up and tugged on Mari's ear. She yelped in pain. "Now you have to buy me a soda," he grumbled.

"Ow, ow, ow, let go you meanie!" she whimpered. He let go and she went off the court to buy them all drinks.

It had been almost a month since she became apart of Xcution, and although she still knew so little about the members…she felt so much closer to them. She was still afraid of Ginjō, but he had become more teasing with her, even telling her that he liked it when she trembled in fear in front of him (which annoyed her greatly).

As she waited for her drink, she felt a tap on her shoulder and turned around, eyes widening. "Shinji!" she exclaimed, surprised.

"Why tha hell have ya been ignorin' me again?" he snapped, angry.

She shook her head, not understanding.

"Where have ya been? What have ya been doin'?" he demanded. "Who are ya with now?"

Mari narrowed her eyes, angry at his outburst. "I didn't know I was your little puppy dog, that you had to keep me on a leash!" she blurted, without even thinking.

Shinji's eyes widened, hurt flashed across his face. He chuckled bitterly, pulling his newsboy cap over his eyes, and turned around, walking away.

Marise, realizing what she had just done, shook her head, tears stinging at her eyes.

"D-don't go, Shinji…" she whimpered.

But he was already gone.

---

Marise stood in front of the warehouse, wearing a cream-colored turtleneck, olive green skirt, tights, and brown ankle-high boots, her golden-blonde curls tied into a high ponytail. There were still faint bruises on her neck, even though it had been weeks, and she had to hide it from everyone by wearing turtlenecks. Luckily, she didn't look out of place due to the cool weather of fall.

The barrier was down, which surprised Mari and she went inside to apologize to Shinji.

Her eyes widened when she only saw Shinji and the girl with red oval glasses and black hair talking.

"I don't know why you're so upset," the girl muttered, eyes on her magazine. "She's such a stupid girl. Really, you should get over it, she's not that special. There are plenty of other cute girls that actually have a brain."

"Yeah…" he murmured, hands clasped together against his mouth. "Yer right."

Marise stood far from them, hurt by both her words and Shinji agreeing with the girl. Her throat was clogged and tears slid down her cheek. She sniffled and Shinji turned around, looking at her with widened eyes.

"Mari…" he began, but she turned around and ran away.

"Damn it Mari, stop runnin' away from me!" Shinji yelled from behind her, though she continued to run across the sidewalk.

She finally stopped and turned around. "I'm sorry I'm such an idiot!" she cried, as the tears continued to fall. "I guess you wish you had someone like Orihime for a friend instead of me! Someone who's pretty, smart, and nice…not an ice cream-loving, Lupin-obsessed dork like me!"

"Hey, now wait a fuckin' minute!" he protested, caught up with her. He leaned his forehead against hers, fingers grazing over her cheek, wiping her tears. "Ya are stupid. Yer a fuckin' idiot. But yer my idiot, understand?"

Marise sniffled, holding his hand to her cheek, smiling. The wind carried falling autumn leaves, falling over them.

He smiled back gently. "Good." He held a tissue. "Now wipe away yer damn tears and blow yer nose."

But Mari reached for his tie instead and blew her nose in it, then wiped her tears.

"D-damn it Mari, that's one of my favorite ties! Not to mention that's fuckin' gross!"

"Oh, you have a million of them" she replied dismissively. She looked up at him with wide eyes. "Will you still be my friend Shinji, even if I hide things from you? Even if I yell at you? Even when I talk about Lupin or Jūro-chan?"

"Yeah…" he chuckled. "No matter how much ya piss me off, ya can never get me to stop lo—ah…bein' yer friend."

"Yay!" Mari cheered, hugging her friend tightly around the waist. He laughed softly and returned the hug, hand running over her back. He licked his lip, resisting the urge to kiss her…god he wanted to so badly…they've known each other for almost three months and still he'd made no progress whatsoever with her.

"Mari," he said softly, and she looked at him. "Who have ya been hangin' out with?"

Her eyes were cast down; hidden underneath long lashes against her rosy cheeks. "J-just friends."

Sadness flashed in his eyes. "Aren't I yer friend?"

She looked up at him, eyes pleading. "Sh-Shinji's my best friend!" she blurted, causing him to smile.

Shinji brushed his lips against her cheek, whispering in her ear, "Don't best friends tell each other everythin'?"

Mari shivered beneath his touch, her cheeks burning. "N-not when it could hurt the best friend…"

"I wish ya wouldn't hide things from me, love."

"It's too weird to tell you," she mumbled, not knowing how to explain.

"Weirder than us?" laughed Shinji. He inwardly cursed though, having a feeling she was involved in something supernatural, which worried him. He didn't want her to get sucked into the wrong crowd or be dragged into a dangerous situation.

Mari puffed out her cheeks, pounding her fist lightly on his chest. "I am not weird! You are the only weird one!"

He grinned at her, entangling a hand in her curls, trying to kiss her on the cheek, but she pushed him away. "D-don't be a weirdo!" she stammered, blushing. "I'm going home!"

"I'll come with ya!"

"I don't want you to!"

"We could take a bath together!"

"I don't want to do that either, you pervert!"

"How 'bout we cuddle on the couch while yer mom fixes us up some food?"

"Why are you being so weird today? And why don't you want to eat my food?"

"Because ya'll kill me with that, doi!"

"Are you making fun of me?"

He flashed her a grin. "'Course not, love."

Shinji followed Marise to her home even though she turned around multiple times and demanded him to go home, he only grinned at her and continued on. Finally, she gave up, and jumped on his back, telling him he could provide some use by carrying her up to her house, which he happily agreed to.

As Mari had her arms wrapped around his neck and legs around his waist, she ran her fingers through his shoulder-length blond hair. Biting her lower lip in hesitation, she leaned a little forward to lightly smell his hair, and then buried her face into its softness. She had missed him…so, so much.

He looked over his shoulder and smiled.

Maybe it wasn't just his heart that swelled with love.

To Be Continued