Welcome to Gaia! ::

He was trying to sooth her but his voice was barely reaching. As he set her down on her bed Mitsu scooted away from where the covers had been pulled back, touching the bed tentatively like it might lash out and bite. Carefully, her hand reached in between the crumpled sheets and lifted the bear she didn't remember owning.

She let it fall back on the bed like it had burned her hand, turning to look at Shun as he explained. Her mind was going a mile a minute now. There had been others? That was right...some had gone missing before...but they got to come home. The thought made her tighten into a ball eyes staring at the bear in disbelief. It didn't help that someone had been here in her room...no...not just someone...Candace. That explained her absence. All that time away and she was spending it in her room, with her things, and with her reaper.

Anger was boiling up and Mitsu was moments away from shredding everything on the bed until Shun once again brought up how. How had she gotten back? Her eyes were focused on her hands suddenly, her lips moving to form the words 'scraps.' It was all she could offer before her reaper began to crumble in on himself, his head dropping into his hands.

She wasn't sure what to do when she used to be so quick to comfort. Now she could only stare, eyes dulling as her conscious mind began to slip back to where it was safe. This was all too much to absorb, to much to deal with, especially when she thought herself the weak one.

Shaking her head she began to rock in place, tears gathering in her eyes again. She couldn't decide if she was more upset at the idea that someone had been living in her room or that no one could figure out it wasn't her. Was she really so easy to mimic? So easy to replace?

Scraps. It was the only word that still stung like a fresh wound across her mind. Did it really sum her up so easily?

'It should have been me..'

Those words had Mitsu's head whipping around toward Shun, concern, worry, and fear all etched together on her face. It had been her fault and he was claiming all the blame.

She opened her mouth to say something but as before her voice failed her. The lack of verbal communication was troubling and she knew writing anything down wasn't going to cut it.

Then a glint of something caught her attention as it ran down his face. Mitsu couldn't help but reach out using the back of her finger to wipe away the moisture looking at it in bafflement. He was...crying? He was upset...because of her. She didn't want him to cry, she didn't want him upset! Mitsu wasn't sure how to handle it her own emotions overwhelming her. How could she tell him she still loved him but it was just so much...too much to absorb right now.

Carefully she reached out and place a hand against his chest above his heart. She could feel it beating irregularly no doubt because he was upset. Mitsu left her hand there long enough until she had his attention and then brought her hand back to place over her own heart. She tried to catch his eyes her lips moving to form another word but this one not in English. 'Aishiteru.'

She thought she had gotten through, he seemed to understand but what she had done didn't seem to help. If anything it only made it worse. What was she going to do? How could she make it better? Clutching the gown above her chest she began to breath deeply, eyes nearly wild as she looked around the room. What could she use, what did she have that she could use to her advantage. She was currently out of her element and didn't even feel like she was truly home. This wasn't her room anymore...it was Candace's.

For a moment Mitsu fussed around her reaper, lightly touching his shoulder and trying to pat his face dry with a stuffed animal. (It was all she had available okay). Seeing him in this state and not being able to say anything was heart wrenching, she was terrified to see him this way her arms beginning to shake uncontrollably. She just wanted him to be okay. She needed him to.

He kept saying sorry. That's all he kept saying when all she wanted to hear was it will be alright now. Just a reassuring pat on the head and comforting words...that's all she had needed for weeks now and instead her world was crumbling around her. So much had changed, so much had gone wrong. Her world had been turned upside down and she wasn't certain it would ever be upright again.

She had zoned out so much she didn't realize he was leaning toward her until his arms had wrapped around her and his face came to rest in the crook of her neck. Initially she flinched, afraid he was going to look closely at her new set of scars. She tried to pull the blanket up higher, self conscious still, but managed to wrap her arms around him in turn. Swallowing down her panic she rested her head against his, closing her eyes for a moment as she focused on her breathing.

He pulled back again wiping his eyes and this time Mitsu brought up part of the sheet she had wrapped around herself to pat at his face. She was trying to be soothing and understanding...he had it rough as well. That much was clear.

As he glanced toward the container on the nightstand Mitsu took that time to drape the sheet around her shoulders back over her head like a make-shift hood. Her ears flattened down as she did so to accommodate her new attire leaving her face the only thing visible. It gave her an edge of comfort though with her ears it felt awkward having them covered up. She just didn't want to be seen...not like this.

Mitsu shook her head. That's not what she was worried about. Carefully she eased the sheet back just enough to expose bits of her buzzed hair, touching it with her fingers. She had never put forth a lot of effort into her image. Being pretty or stunning..that just wasn't her. She could try as she might but she wouldn't look as nice as a lot of her friends. The only thing she truly liked about her appearance had been her hair. It was simple, straight and long but she had kept it neat, brushed and cared for. Sure it would grow back with time but she felt so naked and exposed. Mitsu had never had short hair before nor would she had considered getting it shaved....

Her expression fell as her fingers trailed down and along the scar under her jaw. Just one more thing.....Scraps...

As Shun opened the container of food Mitsu's stomach twisted almost painfully. She looked at the dish in longing knowing it had been her favorite food but right now it was far from appetizing. Looking up toward his face she looked apologetic but shook her head.

She flinched again when his hand came up to touch her jaw, her eyes closing tight as she pulled the sheet closer. Still the same to him? But...she wasn't the same. She felt like something was missing and at the same time like something was there that shouldn't be. It was so conflicting and confusing.

When she finally opened her eyes again feeling the container in her lap she saw him taking off his shirt exposing his own number of scars. It was true he was scarred as well but he had been that way, she had always known him that way. Not that she would love him any differently but...this wasn't how she was supposed to look. It just wasn't right. It...

It wasn't fair.

Her brain took another detour down the road of self pity just as Shun lifted one of the meatballs to her face. She looked at him with sad eyes before regarding the food for a long while. He seemed so adamant about it and part of her wondered....how long the food had been here. Maybe it would make him feel better...he had gone to the trouble.

Slowly Mitsu leaned forward and took a small bite of the meatball trying to keep her face neutral as her stomach churned angrily. Swallowing came with effort her hand coming to rest against the scarred part of her throat. Her frown deepened but she took the fork from him and forced herself to take another small bite chewing extra long and hesitating before swallowing again.