• "Go away. You're annoying."

    His words had stung her, reaching deeper than she was comfortable with. Dejected, she'd retreated to a corner, curling up into the fetal position and whimpering like a puppy that had just been kicked by its master. She sniffled, the epitome of sorrow and rejection.

    "Sly, you know I didn't mean that the way you took it...," he began to console her, but she brushed him off and shifted further into the corner. He stuttered and stammered, unsure of what to say; he'd never felt anything like the twinge of regret he suffered from at that moment. Apathy and contempt were the only two emotions that had ever accompanied him. This was all so new to him.

    He chewed his lower lip, one of his canines slipping out and exposing itself to the cold, cruel, unforgiving air. A reluctant hand hovered near her shoulder, seeking to comfort her, but never quite making it.

    "Don't lie to me. Leave me alone," she whimpered, refusing to face him. She sobbed once to emphasize herself. Rokudo took a moment to react.

    "No."

    "..."

    She turned around slowly, but never fully faced him. Her eyes were wet from tears threatening to spill. It was just too much for him to bear. She sobbed again, and his heart strings snapped from such a hard tug.

    He grabbed her and swung her around. His facial expression had been frozen in place long ago into something akin to contempt, but his eyes showed no sign of aggression; she was startled by the sudden movement, and had been given no warning, nor any time to react when she felt him lean in and kiss her.

    Shock struck her face, and the tears finally spilled down her face. He pulled away, but kept himself for a moment close to her face. His breath was warm against her face, and she almost felt downcast when he pulled away. She stared at him, her shocked expression cemented to her face. The tears flowed still, her teeth clenched, her body stiffened.

    "Now do you believe me?"