Ronin Warriors Fan Fiction ❯ Shattered Dreams ❯ Troubled Hearts ( Chapter 3 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Shattered Dreams
Chapter Three: Troubled Hearts
By: WingsofSakon

Seiji got up from his spot with a smile and went to the front door. Soon as he opened it he saw he had company with him.

"Seiji! You're awake." Nuriko yelled as he walked his way.

"You know I wake up early." Seiji said as Nuriko made himself comfortable on the doorframe.

"Nuriko… what brings you here at this time?" Seiji asked. Knowing that Nuriko had a reason.

Nuriko shifted his disposition and became more serious. "You're right. I do have a reason. One of my friends is in a sticky situation. I was hoping that you could talk to her about it."

"Why come to me?" Seiji asked as he thought about it. He waited for a bit for a response.

Nuriko brushed aside his purple bangs and sighed. Not really knowing how to say it lightly. "Seiji, I don't know what to say to her this time. It was all an accident, but… " He stopped there looking away as if distracted. Then took up again where he left off. "The truth is… she cheated on her fiancé."

At first Seiji was shocked. Even a little hurt maybe. Although, Nuriko was never one to rub a major misdeed in one's face. So, maybe there was more he wasn't telling him. After all, this was his friend.

"With… " Seiji asked implying with Nuriko him self.

"Not me! With my other friend."

"What am I suppose to do about it?"

"Just talk to her. She said she seen her fiancé while with the other one. Now she's really upset."

"I don't mean to sound rude… but shouldn't she be?"

"Seiji, please. She already is. I just want her to have a chance to try to make things right."

Seiji stood there a second looking at Miaka who was still in the car. Then heard a noise from behind him. He looked from the corner of his eye. To see it was Shin putting on his heavy sweater.

"Getting ready to leave again?" Seiji asked not meaning for it sound as cruel as it did.

Shin stopped just out side the doorway to answer. "Did you need some thing, before I leave?"

Seiji didn't want to say no… so he said nothing. Letting Shin leave with no reason to come back. Seiji watched as Shin waved to Miaka in the car as he left. Making him remember Nuriko whom was silent.

"Is this a bad time?" Nuriko asked quietly.

"No, introduce me to your friend." Seiji said acting like nothing was wrong.

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"Nuriko got off work early. His next shift starts tonight at six." A waiter said to him then left.

Taka didn't know where to look next. He wasn't exactly sure where he'd go with Miaka. The club scene really wasn't his pickings. So, he left from there. Not really having a destination of his own. Again, he found himself walking the streets thinking.

'As soon as I met you… I knew there was something there. Some thing about you drew me to you. I could feel it from heart to soul even beep in my bones. The need to protect you was written in the stars. When you went home for those three months… I had realized I loved you. Now all this time I have begun to wonder. Is this real love that I feel for you? That book wrote many things that were to be fated. Now here in the real world… is it still to be? Is this feeling I have from being one of your protectors? Like the others. They each had and do have… such strong feelings for you. I feel like you're slipping away from me. Your kind gentle ways that make me smile. Are they really not meant for me any more? Why Tasuki? Why did you allow it to happen? Why didn't… '

Taka was cut off in his thoughts. He seen some one familiar and wanted to see who it was. As he got closer he recognized who it was. It was the boy from the café. He seemed like a nice person. So, he figured he'd go say hi to him.

"Shin… right?" Taka asked trying to get his attention. Expecting to see a smiling face. Instead when the young man looked up it was rather emotionless. "Are you okay?" The words fell out.

"I'm fine, Taka." Shin said then resumed his quietness. Then said. "I didn't think I'd see you out here."

"Me either. What are you doing?"

"Isn't it obvious… I'm feeding the ducks." Shin said throwing a piece of bread at them. Then gave some bread to Taka to do the same. "What brings you out today?" Shin asked.

"I guess you could say a friend of mine." Taka said trying to be truthful. "And you?"

"I just couldn't stay home today." Shin said trying to do the same. "You know… ahh never mind."

"No, go a head." Taka said trying to encourage him.

"Just as soon as you think you have things figured out and are happy. Some thing always comes up and breaks it into a million pieces. Ever had that happen to you?" Shin asked.

"Yes." Taka replied. Not knowing what else to add.

"It's happened so many times, that I'm not sure where to start-over. This time… " Shin trailed off.

"This time it's different. Right?" Taka finished for him. Making him get his full attention.

"Exactly. It's nothing that I can't really handle it. It's just… tiring I guess."

"I know what you mean, Shin. Is that why you're really out today?"

"I guess. I really didn't want to be home today though." Shin confessed throwing another piece out.

Taka looked around to try and find some thing to talk about. Not wanting Shin to get more depressed.

"Looks like rain again."

"Crap." Shin said under his breath. "Of all days." He added.

"Don't like the rain?" Taka teased.

"Actually, I rather like rain. Just it means I should go home."

"Why don't you come with me?" Taka suggested grabbing his loaf of bread. Seeing the look of shock on his face he added. " What? Do you have other plans?"

"… no."

"Then what's wrong?" He asked walking away with the bread.

"Nothing." Shin said following him with his hands in his sweater.

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Back at the Koji house. Nuriko had gone back into town saying he had some thing to do. Seiji had led Miaka out to the place where he normally meditates. Miaka still wasn't exactly sure what was going on, but Nuriko would never lead her down the wrong path. Seiji wasn't sure how he was suppose to talk to her about it. Although, he did promise to try.

"Where are we?" Miaka asked her self out loud.

"This is my spot. There's nothing to worry about."

"I'm not worried."

"That's good." Seiji said sitting on a rock. "Nuriko… said you needed to talk." He said gently.

At those words she froze all thoughts. Not know what to say. She leaned against a tree and sighed. Seiji saw her discomfort and loss of words. He suddenly wanted Shin. Talking about things like this was his department. He knew the effect he had on others. Speaking his mind bluntly was what he did. Not this… Shin always handled these things.

"Which one do you love?" Seiji asked bluntly.

"That's the problem. I'm not sure any more."

"What do you mean by that? The other one have some thing the other doesn't?"

"That's not it. It's just right now I feel drawn to the other one."

"Miaka… I truthfully don't see how I'm suppose to help you." Seiji confessed.

"Nuriko brought me to you, because he said you had a similar situation."

"Yes, I'm. Although, I'm the one that cheated. If I made the mistake. Then I don't see how I'm suppose to help."

"Was it worth it for you?" Miaka asked with out thinking.

"At the time. Now though… I'm with out the one person I truly feel for. Like I said. It was a mistake. Some thing that I'm ashamed of. I don't think that no matter how I try now. I'll get the one I love back. If I do… I know it will never be the same. I don't know what all happened with you. Can you honestly tell me things would be the same if you got yours back? All I can really ask is this… who is deeper in your heart?"

"First… tell me why it won't be the same for you?" Miaka said holding tears back.

Seiji sat there a second. "Because… the one I love. Has a gentle heart. I may be forgiven, but I broke that heart. Do broken hearts ever really heal? If they do… just how much can a gentle one take before it just stops beating. My love may never see me the same way again. Then… I guess the real question is… Can I live with that?" Seiji said his thoughts out loud to her. Fighting back the pain that came with them. Although, when he looked over to her. She had slid down the tree that was supporting her. Face hid in her arms sobbing quietly as she could. A battle they were both losing.

Through her sobbing he could hear her saying some thing.

"Taka… Taka I'm so sorry. So, sorry."

Seiji remembered the boy from the other night. That Shin had befriended.