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The exhaustion(from before, not the little pothole) and hunger, mixed with the depression she was feeling, made Shizuka light-headed. She became a little dizzy, putting her hand up to her head to try and stop the feeling in vain.
"Shizuka?? Are you alright??" Amaya asked, worried.

"Oh, like you actually care what happened to me!" Manta explodes, drawing himself to his full height. "Horo's right, apologize to him!"

Faust's expression is blank. "Hey, Manta... it's a morphine day. I might be asleep for awhile. Please make sure Shizuka eats something very soon; judging by her pallor, she's about to faint." He turns to leave.

Grabbing Shizuka's elbow to steady her, Manta calls, "No, Faust! That was low... Ren hasn't apologized... stay right here until he says he's sorry!"

"Oh, him?" Faust asks. "You're right. It was low. I wouldn't accept an apology, even if his parents had taught him manners. Besides, in the long run, saying such things will only hurt him. Anyone who spouts poison without care is sure to swallow some," he adds, going indoors.

"It's been a rough day," explains Faust, turning and handing the cupcake to Shizuka. He goes to his room and shuts the door.

Manta is still bristling. "Ren, if you knew ANYTHING about ANYTHING...." he's so angry he's shaking.

Anna appears. "What's wrong, Manta? And who's this girl?" she raises her eyebrow suspiciously. "Better not be one of Hao's hags."

"Ren and Faust got into a fight," says Manta. "And Ren stooped so low I felt taller than him."

"How low?" Anna asks interestedly.

"Just... low. This is Shizuka. She's not allied with Hao, as far as I know, but she seems nice enough."

"Why does she have two cupcakes?" Anna asks, bearing down on Shizuka.

"I see," says Anna, nodded somberly. "I'm sorry these idiots are making your stay unpleasant. I think I have a feeling I know what this is about. Manta, what did Faust probably just take a fatal overdose of?"

"He said vicodin... then he changed his mind and said morphine."

Anna walks briskly over to Ren and slaps him harshly across the face. "There are a lot of reasons Faust is staying here," she snaps. "You of all people should know that the past is dead, and bringing it up is again is like putting a nail in your own coffin. He's my pet doctor; you can make fun of his weight, or his addictions, or the fact that he's so close to death his lips are turning blue. But if I EVER hear about you mocking his dream of having a family...." the ferocity in her glare said it all.

Anna snorts. "Well, at least we know what makes her smile. Listen, Shizuka, everyone here is really different. You can either be like Ren here and exploit the vulnerability of others, or you can find out about people and understand what kind of behavior to avoid. For instance: around Faust, talking about happy families is strictly taboo. Unless he makes the first move."

"He mentioned that he wishes he had a daughter like her," Manta says softly.

Anna reels. "You better not have shot that down! That's the highest compliment he gives anyone! Wait... has Manta told you anything about him?"

"I haven't really," Manta says in a small voice.

"Well.... Shizuka, it's important that you understand Faust before you judge him. Trust me on that. When Ren's not around, Manta can tell you what you should know."

Anna goes to Faust's door. She tries the handle, snorts, and marches back to Manta and Shizuka. "He deadbolted it. Where's Tamao? I need to give her authority to handcuff that stick-figure to the kitchen table until I see him eat something."

"He probably won't," says Manta. "He claims that food makes him sick. No offense, Tamao," he says quickly, in case she's listening.

"Well, if he'd stop shooting painkillers," says Anna with exaggerated patience, "maybe he'd stop feeling sick long enough to actually eat something." Anna growls, massaging her forehead. "The angst in this household is ridiculous. Ren has issues, and Faust has a year's SUBSCRIPTION."