“We just got back and we’re already being put to work.” Lugo sighed loudly and slouched onto the couch.

“We were able to relax yesterday.” Tsugi grabbed his cloak off the rack and threw it on.

“Yeah, that’s because we got back yesterday morning.” Lugo complained and stood up, heading over to grab his cloak.

“Welcome to being an adult.” Tsugi smirked. “Ellie left early this morning already. We should go and see if Jenene has anything for us.”

“Fine.” Lugo tied his cloak around him and they headed out.

“What was wrong with you yesterday anyways? You were all pouty and moody.” Tsugi frowned at him. “Are you getting your period?” Tsugi smirked at Lugo, who gave her a swift shove.

“I’ve had to deal with Jenene through her period and trust me, this isn’t anywhere near that.” He rolled his eyes.

“Everyone is different.” Tsugi shrugged. “I’ve lived with other people too and they each are different.”

Lugo glared at Tsugi. “I am not a woman. I can’t get my period!” He glowered.

“Your mood says otherwise.” Tsugi mumbled and Lugo lunged at her, causing her to take off down the road. “See!” She yelled behind her. Lugo frowned and continued to chase her down the street. She laughed loudly and dodged Lugo’s attacks.

Next thing Tsugi knew, she had appeared in Lugo’s grasp as they fell to the floor. He had wrapped his legs around hers binding her to him. His arm was around her neck in a choke-hold and she was stuck.

“Cheater!” Tsugi choked and pulled on Lugo’s elbow so she could tuck her chin.

“It’s not cheating. It’s called using what you have to your advantage.” Lugo grinned and tightened his hold on her. “You want to see me on my period! I’ll show you how I would be if I were to have my period!” He screamed and tightened his grip even more, crushing Tsugi to him like a snake.

Tsugi chuckled, finding it hilarious that she was able to get under Lugo’s skin. The hold around her neck brought a quick flash of memory from the night Sir Gorou had her neck in a death grip. Her heart resounded loudly in her ear and a rapid pulse of fear rushed through her body. Her world started to fade slowly into darkness and nothing but the sound of her heartbeat was heard.

“Aeris!” Lugo screamed but his voice sounded so far away that it was almost a whisper in a distant memory.

Tsugi was walking through the gates to the orphanage. She blinked in confusion and gazed around, her heart rate started to pick up pace and her breathing was fast and shallow with every step. Lugo was talking beside her, but his voice sounded muffled under her breathing and blood rushing by her ears.

“...are you okay?” Lugo stopped in front of her and looked down at her. She looked up at Lugo and glanced around nervously.

What happened? How did she get here? Was it another hallucination? No, it can’t be…he’s dead. Her memory was fuzzy, but she’s sure that her father is dead.

Lugo grabbed both of her shoulders and shook her. “Tsugi? Are you okay?”

She shrugged his hands off of her and stepped back from him. “Who are you?” Her voice was quiet and shaky.

Lugo furrowed his brows and raised his hands slowly. “It’s me…Lugo. I’m your friend, we traveled together, I gave you an ocarina when we parted fourteen years ago.”

Tsugi closed her mouth and took in a big whiff. The fresh scent of lavender soap, his armor, the smell of his aroma filled her nose, and she knew she wasn’t hallucinating. She exhaled in relief and fought back the tears that welled in her eyes. Her knees buckled from underneath her.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

“You okay?” Lugo grabbed her in his arms and eased her to sit on the floor.

The last time she had a nervous breakdown, she was in a daze for half a year. The memory of Sir Gorou on the dead hill and the moment when she was in the jungle with Master Lumes and Ellie flashed in her mind like lightning. She flinched at the thought and rubbed her hand across her neck. Swallowing hard and taking deep heaving breaths as she fought the memory back into the locked box.

“What…what happened?” She panted. “Last thing I remember is us wrestling in the streets.”

“Nothing happened. I let you go and then we came here.” Lugo placed a hand on her shoulder and tilted his head down to look at her face.

“What happened to you?” She grabbed his chin and turned his head, looking at the pink scar from his ear, down his jaw and neck. Down the side of his cloak and shirt was stained with blood.

He pulled away and brushed his fingers down the scar. “Oh this? It’s nothing. I must’ve gotten it during our little scuffle, but Ellie healed it.” He looked up and Tsugi followed his gaze to Ellie, who was standing behind her with a scolding gaze.

{Have you two lost your mind?} She frowned. {Don’t scuffle like that in the middle of the street. What do you think will happen if Master Jenene and Master Lumes find out?}

Tsugi chuckled nervously. {Sorry.} She managed to calm down and stood to her feet. {At least we’re okay.} Tsugi gave her a sheepish smile. {Did I give him that scar?}

{How the hell would I know? I don’t know what’s going on, but you two need to control your adolescent scuffles.} She raised an eyebrow at the both of them, gesturing with two fingers that she’s watching them.

“Yeah, sorry.” Lugo muttered and Tsugi turned to look at him. “What? I’m pretty sure that’s a universal gesture.” He cocked his eyebrow at Tsugi.

Ellie turns her attention to Lugo, signing furiously. {Have you lost your fucken mind? You do that to her and she’ll go back into that horrid state! You’re lucky she’s fine! You know how long it took for Master Lumes and I had to work with her on her trauma?! Do you?! Some friend you are! Don’t you dare do that to her again or I will kill you myself!} She frowned and placed her fists on her hips, glaring at him.

“What?” Lugo glanced from her to Tsugi. “What did she say?”

“Uh…she just said that we are adults and we shouldn’t fight like little kids.” Tsugi chuckled nervously and glanced at Ellie who was now yelling at her.

{That’s not what I said! Did you forget I can read lips?! He’s careless and an idiot!}

{I haven’t been with him long enough for him to realize it.} Tsugi pleaded. {He’s a good person, he just didn’t know.}

{Then tell him! I would prefer not to see you in that state again. And if he’s truly your friend, I’m sure he wouldn’t want that either.}

{I just…I don’t want that pity from him. If I tell him, he’ll never look at me the same and I just want everything to be like how it was before. Besides…I’m getting better, I’m not lost in a daze…I’m here. Please, just let this go and don’t tell anyone. I really don’t want him to know.} She begged.

Ellie scowls, narrowing her eyes into slits. {Fine…but if he does it again, I’m killing him.}

{Thank you.} Tsugi sighed. Ellie lets out a huffing pout and marches into the orphanage.

“I think you may have mistaken the wrong person for being on their period.” Lugo muttered as they watched Ellie storm off. “Why is she so angry about our little scuffle?”

“She’s just worried that we might hurt each other.”

“She must really like you, if she’s going to get that worked up over something so little.”

“Awe…” Tsugi smirked and teasingly elbows his arm. “You jealous?”

His face flushed and his eyes widened. “No!” He squeaked. “Why would I be jealous?!”

“Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but…” Tsugi leaned toward him and whispered. “...she’s not a big fan of yours right now.”

“What?” His eyes widened in shock. “Why? What did I do? We only just met yesterday, how can she not like me already?”

“Exactly. Let’s just say your first impressions didn’t impress her.” Tsugi chuckled.

“How?”

“Well, when she first met you, we were fighting in the kitchen and then we had to clean up a huge mess of mashed potatoes from all over the house. Then you had your little hissy fit and stormed to bed. Then we got into that scuttle in the middle of the streets this morning. So, yeah…she’s not your biggest fan right now.” Tsugi laughed quietly and unbound her ponytail to fix the loose strands before rebinding it.

“Can you teach me how to do sign language?” Lugo rolled his shoulders back and held a determined look. “I want to be able to communicate with her and show her that I’m not a bad person.”

Tsugi snorted. “Yeah, I’m sure that’s the only reason.” She didn’t even try to hide her sarcasm.

“No, I’m serious. So can you teach me or not?” He glanced down at her.

“Yes, I can teach you.” She shook her head in disbelief. He’s still the same old Lugo she knew.

“You two are fairly late.” Jenene said as they walked through the door.

“Sorry, something happened on our way here.” Lugo said nonchalantly as they approached the counter.

“Oh? Like what darlin?” Her gaze was accusatory.

“Nothing of importance.” Lugo said sternly. “So, do you have anything for us?”

Jenene scrutinized them for a bit before turning to dig out a parchment. “This just came in this morning."