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There had been a sense of uncertainty about how she was going to get back, a nagging thought beyond the pain. She was frightened, terrified that she would be taken back to the lab, that making it home wasn't an option. When she finally dissipated it came with a small sense of relief despite the risk. As weak and torn up and broken as she was would she even reform? Would she really be whole again?

The next time Mitsu opened her eyes she stared up at the dark unlit ceiling of the nurse's office. It was a welcome sight that at first had her wondering if she was dreaming. Would it be so bad to dream about being home? Where the world wasn't as bright and harsh. She laid there for hours after not moving just simply taking in her surroundings, afraid that if she moved the image would crumble and she would be left in nothing but her dark little void. Her lack of motivation also stemmed from her previous injuries...what state was she in now?

Finally she pepped herself up to shift and move her clenched fist lifting into view. She eased her hand open slightly relieved to find the pendant still in her grasp. Through everything that had happened she had managed to keep it with her. Closing her fingers back around it her gaze shifted lower down her arm noting the deep and heavy scarring that had been left behind. Her face scrunched a little, pained to see her other arm in nearly the same state. It made her worry...what did the rest of her look like?

It took her the better part of another hour to find out, her fingers finally venturing up to tentatively touch her jaw fearing it would be missing. Her hand trembled as she got closer, too scared to really find out and too anxious not to know. With a deep breath she finally pressed down and was instantly relieved to find flesh though she could feel where the texture of her skin changed just under her chin and behind her jaw. No doubt more scarring. It was still a relief to be whole again her hand reaching up to find her ears neatly back in place though tender to the touch but it also gave her a reminder of her missing hair. Buzzed short her fingers brushed against the odd texture, her lips drawn in a tight pained line.

Scraps

The thought made her recoil, the aches in her body still present as she curled up on the bed she had appeared on drawing the blankets up around her to hide. That was all she was now...scraps...nothing worth while.

The day ticked by as she laid on the bed and before she knew it the moon was streaming in through the window indicating night had come. Her mobility was off but she forced herself to sit up then, the world spinning as she sat upright. Slowly she was feeling better, weak but better. Far better than she had felt for weeks. Nurse Cricket was no where in sight at the moment but Mitsu found herself clothed in a simple white gown, no doubt to replace the tattered one she had when arriving. The nurse must have tended to her while she was out.

Nervous eyes glanced about the room, ears twitching making her head snap around at the smallest noise. It didn't help that the nurse's office was filled with bugs, skittering and chirping. Slowly Mitsu swung her legs around, her toes easing onto the floor. With effort she rose from her bed, took a step, and quickly found herself on the floor. Her legs weren't ready to take her anywhere and the thought frightened her as she scrambled back and behind the bed. She couldn't run, couldn't defend herself. As much as she wanted to leave, as much as she wanted to see Shun....

Shun....She...couldn't let him see her like this. Not like this. What would he think of her now? What would he say if he knew she had nearly given in. She had gotten herself into this mess...weak. She was the personification of weakness right now. Would he cast her aside for being so foolish? Uncertain and afraid Mitsu curled up behind the bed out of sight, her knees drawn up where she rested her forehead against them. Scraps...That word continued to plague her.

It seemed another day had passed, Mitsu had been so out of touch with time in her little room it was odd to see the sky change from dark to light to dark again. Her mental state grew worse and there were times where she had almost talked herself into leaving, scooting her way closer to the door only to retreat behind the bed again. It was her little safe place for now where she didn't have to think and didn't have to worry.

She sat in silence letting the hours pass only drawing out of her trance like state at the sound of another in the room. Her first instinct was to hide only for her to realize she already was leaving room for her second instinct to take over. Hide better. A pale arm reached out onto the bed and grabbed the sheet pulling it over the edge and into the darkness where Mitsu used it to cover herself with. The voice hadn't registered yet, fear and nerves keeping her from peeking to see who it might be.

As soon as the sheet was pulled away and she knew her cover was blown she flinched, curling up trying to make herself as small as possible. Her hands came up to cover her head, her shoulders trembling like she was waiting for something bad to happen.

But she heard her name and froze, the voice finally finding somewhere familiar in her mind. She was pulled out from under the bed before she could properly react, all thin limbs and awkward movement.

There was still that lingering feeling that she didn't want Shun to see her this way, that perhaps she could just crawl back under the bed and hide until later. How much later she wasn't sure but she could figure that out later too. Still...she wanted to see him, it had been far too long and she found her eyes shifting upward, her head tilting nervously so that she could see him.

His face, so conflicted with emotion and yet, it was the most wonderful sight. Before she could stop herself tears started to fill her eyes, a shaky hand reaching out to touch his face. He was...real....really there. Not a dream or a figment of her imagination but real.

Her lips formed his name but there was no sound, her face scrunching up as she began to cry. She might have thought it easy before to hide from him but now that he was here she couldn't help but press toward him her arms reaching to wrap around his middle.

Relief was the only thing she could let herself feel at that moment as he wrapped his arms around her. She pulled herself closer, burying her face in his shoulder. There was no way for her to explain, she opened her mouth and feared her voice would fail her like it had back at the lab.

Instead she held him tighter, making herself smaller in his embrace as if trying to hide. She at least nodded to confirm that yes she was real. She still had no idea there had been an impostor.

When he pulled back Mitsu went rigid, her hands still clutching at him trying to keep close. She reluctantly met his gaze before she looked away trying to hide the side of her face that had been damaged. The scars weren't terribly noticeable along her jaw but they were there and in her mind they were far worse than they really were. The ones across her throat were a little more notable showing the neat lines they had made as the lab techs had carved away.

At the mention of going back to her room there was a small sense of panic. Outside...they would have to go outside. Quickly she shook her head letting go of him with one hand to reach for the sheet he had pulled away to bring it back toward her. In an instant she threw it over herself the darker environment giving her the illusion that she was hiding. She didn't want to go outside...it was safe here.

Mitsu's brows knitted tightly and she pulled back the blanket enough to give Shun a nervous glance. She still kept the blanket close around her head keeping her body and face mostly hidden aside from her eyes. Fear, that was most evident above all, glancing to the door she had yet to talk herself into walking through.

As she looked back her expression read a reluctant 'do we have to?' She wasn't sure if she was ready, while she was healing she still didn't feel well. Mitsu's body felt far from right like something...a part of her was missing. Though in all probability there probably was.

Her features looked so conflicted. As much as she wanted to stay she didn't want to keep Shun here...but she didn't want him to go either. It was still like a dream that he was here, that she could touch him and see him and if she looked away he wouldn't suddenly disappear like he had during her times in that room. So many times she had seen him, her sleep deprived mind playing tricks on her and a part of her hoped this wasn't another one.

Food....food sounded wonderful..and terrible all at the same time. She had eaten here and there while on the Hunter's island but she had started to lose her taste for anything. The mention of her favorite food made her stomach growl loudly as if to give its own thoughts on the matter. As amazing as it might have been though she couldn't help but picture the meals they had brought her in desu. Pretty little dishes that Candace made sure were perfect and it made Mitsu's stomach twist in sickness.

Finally she gave a small nod but still wasn't willing to leave the safe haven of the sheets. He could take her back to her room and hopefully the trip would be fast. She took his hands, reluctant to let go of the blanket, noticing then the bandages that covered his knuckles. She looked down at the worn and blood stained bandages before peering up at Shun's face lifting his hands so that he would know what had her concerned. What...had he been doing?

Somehow Mitsu was still able to muster the look of disapproval. Shun would not be spared, even as he lifted her up still bundled in the sheet to take her to her room. The lycan did her best to remain covered during their trip, flinching at every dark shadow they passed. Whether it was a Hunter, Student, or nothing at all she wasn't sure but her mind imagined the worst. Lab techs with their tools and..

They arrived at her room fairly quickly and the first thing that Mitsu noted was everything looked...off. Her bed looked like it had been slept in, books were not where she remembered putting them, and there was a pair of shoes by the door, high heeled pumps. Someone...had been in her room.

She tensed, panic well on its way as she looked up at Shun, out at the room, and then back up toward him again. The understanding wasn't there, she didn't know what had happened, that Candace had pretended to be her. All she saw was that her room had been compromised.