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Emilia had let Junko past so she could duck into the house, and Seiji had lingered outside with his mother for a bit, letting his poor fiance have a few moments to herself so she could compose herself. The poor thing had assumed things would go so badly, it had to be a relief, but even still, he imagined she was feeling really overwhelmed at the moment.

When he did go and find her she was sitting on the floor of his old room, back to the bed, and he sank down on the mattress beside her and lay a hand on her shoulder. "Everything alright?"

"I know." She's been expecting the worst. The cold shoulder, at the very least. Cold disdIn and disapproval. He'd tried to tell her that wasn't the case, but she's worked herself up too high to head reason. Only seeing it for her own eyes would help, and now tha she had, it was a matter of letting all those pent up emotions out. The boil felt bad for her, but in an hour or so she'd be fine. Ready to enjoy the rest of their visit with his parents.

As Junko climbed up beside him he lifted his arms, let her settle around him with her head on his thigh before laying a hand on her side and one in her hair. Thick fingers slid through warm silk, combing through those endless lengths. "She's making tea, if you want some."

He understood. It was why he wasn't calling her silly, or belittling her emotions. It wasn't an unreasonable fear, given their history. "" always and forever. The boil flashed her a smile as he stroked her hair, They could sit like this as long as she wanted.

Junko had other ideas though.

He helped her up, and when she asked if she was still pretty he'd nod, smile growing. "Gorgeous, baby." The brush of a thumb along her cheek erased the only evidence of running make up.

"I'm gunna unpack, if you need me." The ghost was aware enough to know the two ladies probably needed a little time to themselves to talk.

eight

The kiss was returned, glowing eyes closing briefly as he lifted a hand to touch her cheek, then he was smiling as she slipped away to straighten her dress. "I'm sure there's nothing in the pantry at the moment, but I do appreciate the thought, Gorgeous." An amused look followed her out the door, and left on his own, Seiji did indeed start to unpack their bags into his old, and empty, dresser. They were only there for a week or so, but between the two of them they had quite a lot of clothing.

Emilia was standing at he stove when the soft knock alerted of Junko's presence. She knew it was the ghoul without having to see her, and there was already a smile in place as she turned to glance over her shoulder. "You could get the tea pot down from the cabinet, dear. " Like before, her voice carried a thread of good natured amusement along with it's usual peace.

The water was set to boil, and the old haunt turned to regard the young woman that was standing in her kitchen. She had grown so much since the first time she'd seen her. Her hair was much longer, but this was not the same ghoul. She had grown up, matured, changed in many ways. Translucent hands dried themselves on the apron tied around the woman's waist as she walked towards the ghoul. "You've grown into a beautiful ghoul, Junko."

Emilia took the teapot from Junko's hands, holding it in against her body as she watched color spread across the ghoul's cheeks. It was a proud smile that lingered as she spoke of self improvement, and it was a patient one that replaced it when she finally asked the question the haunt knew had been nagging her most. "No." She had never been mad at Junko. Disappointed, of course, and sympathetic for Seiji, but never mad. "The past is there to learn from." Young creeple made mistakes, it was inevitable, but that was how they learned and grew.

Setting the teapot down on the table, the elderly woman reached out to cup one of the young ghoul's cheeks affectionately. "You look like you've learned many things since the last time I saw you."

She, at least, had never worried over the well being of her son or the ghoul that had broken his heart. Anyone with half a mind for romance could see their separation wasn't permanent. There were too many feelings there, too strong a bond. It hurt because it was real.

The hug wasn't completely unexpected, but the intensity of it still caught the old haunt off guard. For a split second she froze as Junko moved to throw her arms around her neck, then she was smiling, drawing the ghoul in with a reassuring sound and gentle touch. She could barely understand what the poor thing was saying, she was speaking so quickly, and it was a wonder it was still in English. She knew how quickly the pair of scarelings reverted to their native tongue when they got stressed or emotional.

"Shhh shh." hate her? How could they ever. Junko was such a sweet thing, so respectful and polite. Whatever had happened between her and their son, that was their business, and did color the old haunts' opinion of her.

"We don't, we didn't. Not once." She let Junko cling for a few moments longer before reaching around to wrap her hands loosely around the ghoul's wrists to draw them back so she could see her face again. "You don't have to worry about that."

Seiji, finished with the unpacking, was lingering in the hall listening to the exchange between mother and fiance.

The haunt could only guess at what the ghoul was murmuring against her shoulder--ven with Seiji as a son, neither elderly ghost understood more than a handful of Japanese words between them--but she smiled at Junko, and she smoothed a kindly hand through her hair at the side of her head and drew her in so she could lay a kiss on her brow. "It's alright." It was. "Past is past. He loves you and we adore you."

That was when Seiji made his appearance in the kitchen, moving quietly up behind his Fiancé. A smile was passed between mother and son as he slid his arms around the smaller ghoul from behind and drew her gently back against his chest. "Everything alright in here?" He saw the tears but he made no mention of them.

They could keep the moment to theurselves, he could pretend he hadn't heard.

When she tilted his head back cool fingertips rested lightly against delicate features, hovering at the ghoul's cheekbones and jaw line before smoothing down her neck on either side to settle on her shoulders. "Mmhmm." It had only taken a few minutes, despite the amount of clothing she'd they'd brought along with them. Seiji had actually been standing just outside the kitchen for a while before making his presence known to the two of them.

"Dad's gift is laying on the bed," he assured her, bumping the curve of a knuckle beneath her chin with a smile. "I'm sure he'll be home soon."

"He should," Emilia pipped up gently, turning to busy herself with preparing the tea. "Tea will be ready in a few minutes." She'd offer them snacks, but at the moment there wasn't much in the house. As it was, the haunt was only making tea for Junko. The poor ghoul had looked terribly fragile when they'd arrived.