My Sunshine

Broken - Mizuka

Mizuka knocked on Iruka's door in the dead of night, unsure of why she was summoned. She didn't mind coming out at all, but it was nice to finally get a little sleep next to her husband. However, when Iruka answered he looked as though he had been crying.

"Hey, are you okay? What happened?"

He stepped out of the front door and quietly closed it behind him.

"I'm sorry to call on you so late. I wanted to be able to talk to you while Haru is asleep."

"That's okay that it's late. What's going on?"

He gazed out at the summer night sky before answering.

"She... She offered me her body as payment for everything I've done for her. When I refused, she told me that I was the first good man that she had ever met."

Mizuka felt her heart sink a little.  She was secretly hoping that Iruka would be Haru's soft spot to land in the village.  She seemed to be the most comfortable around him.

"Iruka, if this is too much, she can come and stay with us until we can find a better solution-"

"I can't... I can't."

Mizuka stopped and gazed at him sadly.  She put a comforting hand on his arm.

"It's hard to hear such horrible stories. It's hard to believe that someone has lived a life of such atrocities, but she has. She's had to live them, and now, we need to give her the chance to unlearn the behaviors that stem from her past. That's how her life has worked up until now. It's not unusual for women near the Azure island region to offer their bodies in return for protection and debt payment, which is where we believe she is from. But, these independent islands usually have woman leaders and it is an autonomous decision.  It a sex positive culture.  But, what happened to Haru was slavery.  She has been beaten and raped repeatedly and she was far too young to consent.  Even as an adult, she didn't have the ability to consent.   She has a lot to work through. It's a lot."

Iruka had his arms crossed, watching the ground now. He was trying to stop the tears from falling. She was honored that he trusted her enough to reach out and talk through this. All of this was too much for one person to take on alone. It would truly take a village to help this young woman.  However...

"I can't leave her, Z. I'm not leaving her. I just... had to tell another person. I've cried all night since she told me that."

"Iruka... let it out. You're only human as well. That's hard."

She pulled him into a hug, holding him tightly.

"I think I'm getting attached to her, Z."

"I think you have been, and that's not a bad thing. Not at all. She doesn't just need someone to care for her, Iruka, she needs someone to care about her. I know you can do it. You're one of the most caring, nurturing people I know."

She took her sleeve and wiped his tears away gently.

"If you want my advice, and you might not, listen to her. Let her decide how close you get. Who knows; maybe this will blossom into something really beautiful for the both of you that you both need, even if it's just a friendship. Lord knows you deserve something beautiful in your life, Iruka."

He began to cry again at her words. Iruka had lived a hard life, one full of loneliness and isolation after the death of his parents, but nothing like Haru's.

"I can't leave her, Mizuka. I don't want to leave her. But this is hard."

"It's hard to hear about the people you care for being hurt."

Mizuka reached out for him again, holding him gently in her arms.

"Everything will be okay. She's not in this alone, and you're not caring for her alone. I'm so glad that you reached out to me tonight. Thank you-"

"Iruka? Iruka?"

Iruka quickly pulled away from Mizuka, as the front door opened wider.  Standing there was a terrified looking Haru, her pink blanket pulled up around her shoulders. She was shaking.

"I'm sorry, I heard the front door and then you were gone and I was afraid that... that..."

Iruka turned and Mizuka saw him give her a comforting smile.  She gave Haru one as well.

"I'm here. Everything is okay. I was just talking to Mizuka. I didn't mean to scare you."

This young woman was broken. Her past and her attacker had her spooked, to say the least.  Iruka turned his attention back to Mizuka for a second.

"Thanks, Z. I'm gonna get her back into bed."

Mizuka gave him a sad smile.

"Goodnight, you two. I'll come check in tomorrow."

Mizuka turned and left, walking down the street back toward her husband and children. She did, however, glance back to see the pair illuminated by the porch light over their apartment door. Iruka had a hand on Haru's shoulder and he was talking to her gently, guiding her back inside. She had a long road ahead of her, but Mizuka felt comfortable leaving her in Iruka's care. Everything would be okay... because it had to be.