A Broken Man

Chapter 49: I won't leave You

While Laurance was telling Aphmau what happened down in the Nether, Zane was training with Dmitri and Nekoette when Kawaii-Chan came over.

Nekoette: " Hi Ma..."

Kawaii-Chan power walked into the house, not saying a word and biting her lip. She didn't even noticed Nekoette, Dmitri or Zane.

Nekoette: " Mama..."

Dmitri: " What was that about?"

Zane knew something was bothering Kawaii-Chan, he saw her lip quivering and red eyes, she was about to cry. Zane didn't really know what to do, but for now, he decided to give Kawaii-Chan her space and some time to calm down, he'll have to check on her later after having her space for a while.

Nekoette: " What's wrong with Mama?"

Zane: " I don't know. But I think your mother wants to be alone right now. We'll check on her in a while."

Nekoette: " Okay."

After around an hour, Nekoette and Dmitri ran off to play with the other kids, leaving Zane to himself. He decided to work around a bit, he didn't want Kawaii-Chan to worry about all the work around the house while she's worked up about something. Zane looked up at the stairs, Kawaii-Chan was still in her room, he could hear her crying. 

Zane's thoughts: " I hate it when she's crying. It hurts me and the others seeing her like that."

After finishing up with a few of the chores, Zane went over to Kawaii-Chan's room, he knocked on the door, waiting for Kawaii-Chan to respond.

Zane: " Nana? Nana, can I come in?"

Zane waited for some kind of response, he turns the doorknob, it was unlocked, and he found a crying Kawaii-Chan, curled up in a ball on her bed with her face bury in a pillow, trying to muffle herself. Zane slowly made his way to the bed and sat on the edge.

Zane: " Nana? Are you... Okay?"

Kawaii-Chan didn't lift her head, but she shook her head while still bury in her pillow.

Zane: " What happened?"

Kawaii-Chan didn't say anything, she just kept crying. Zane scooted a bit closer to Meif'Wa, he tried to pet her ears, it always seems to calm her down, but Kawaii-Chan looked over and hissed at him, causing Zane to pull his arm away and nearly fall off the bed. Kawaii-Chan realizes what she did and looked away, clenching her teeth a bit. Why did she do that? Zane then got up.

Zane: " I'll uhh... I'll give you some space."

Before Zane left, Kawaii-Chan wrapped her tail around his hand.

Kawaii-Chan quietly: " *sniffs* Please... Please stay... I'm sorry... I didn't mean it."

Zane walked back over to the bed and sat with Kawaii-Chan, she slowly got up and lean against Zane's arm. Kawaii-Chan looked in his eye, tears pour down her face and quiver her lip a bit. 

Kawaii-Chan: " ... I hate Dante.. *sniff*."

Zane: " What?"

Kawaii-Chan: " Why'd he had to do it.. *hic* Why did he do it..."

Zane: " Wait. Nana, Nana, slow down."

Kawaii-Chan looked away, Zane place his hand under Kawaii-Chan's chin and slowly turn her head.

Zane: " Nana, look at me. I need you to calm down for me. Can you do that?"

Kawaii-Chan sniffed a bit and nodded. She started to take deep breaths, it seem to help.

Zane: " Good. Now, start from the beginning and tell me what happened."

Kawaii-Chan: "... Dante's in the Nether."

Zane jolts a bit hearing that. 

Kawaii-Chan: " I-I heard Laurance tell Aphmau tha-that before he left... Dante was brought to the Nether by a few of the Shadow Knights that attack the village... And... He.. He.. Killed someone."

Zane eye widen a little bit. He wasn't that surprise though, the Shadow Lord usually makes everyone in the Nether fight to entertain himself or to see how strong they are. But Dante? He didn't know-know him, but Zane knew he wasn't much of a killer unless he was defending his loved ones. Who did he kill? Why did he kill them? Kawaii-Chan then went on.

Kawaii-Chan: " Laurance also said that he seem to... enjoyed it.. Dante smiled after killing that person. I mean... It was a Shadow Knight, but... He still killed him when he brought up you, what he did to the village.... and me... He's gone... the man I once loved is gone and isn't the same person at all anymore..."

Kawaii-Chan curled up again, tears ran down her face. She and Dante may have not had a good relationship after finding out about Nicole's relationship with him and that Dante would flirt with other women once in a while, but she still liked him a bit. Zane didn't know what to say. He was furious in hearing that Dante just turned his back one everyone and join the Nether, alongside bring the Shadow Lord's Relic back. But, he also felt a bit guilty, Dante started acting out after he showed up, was this all his fault? Was it Zane's fault that Dante snapped and did the things he did? But yet again, what would have happened if Zane never left the Nether? What would happen then? If he didn't show up, Dante would most likely still hurt Kawaii-Chan by flirting with other girls and keep her quiet. Zane shook his head, getting all those thoughts out of his head. It didn't matter, what matter was being there for Kawaii-Chan. Zane gently wipes the tears out of Kawaii-Chan's face.

Zane: " Don't have your beautiful face get covered and messy with tears. I'm sorry about what you heard about Dante, I really am, but... But don't let him get to you and make you lock yourself away. Trust me, it's not fun to lock yourself away from everyone."

Kawaii-Chan looked up at Zane, she rested her head on his chest and grabbed his shirt, gripping it tightly. Zane rubbed Kawaii-Chan's back and stroke her long, pink hair. As the day went on, Kawaii-Chan didn't leave Zane's side, she held his hand wherever he went, Zane didn't really mind it, he knew that Kawaii-Chan didn't want to be alone, so he let her follow him around. When night came, Zane sat with Kawaii-Chan for a while.

Zane: " You're... Feeling a bit better?"

Kawaii-Chan nodded.

Zane: " Well...it's getting late, and you need to rest. I'll be downstairs if you need me."

Before Zane could leave, Kawaii-Chan stopped him.

Kawaii-Chan: " Don't go."

Zane looked back at Kawaii-Chan.

Kawaii-Chan: " Please stay with me. I don't want to be alone."

Zane: "... Okay."

Zane blushed a tiny bit and he lay next to Kawaii-Chan, he lay on top of the blankets while Kawaii-Chan was wrapped under them. Zane turns his back a bit, Kawaii-Chan rest her back against his, but only for a second. She grabbed his arm and wrapped her arms around his. Zane was a bit surprised by this, but then he noticed Kawaii-Chan shaking a bit, he couldn't tell if she was scared or didn't want to be alone, probably both, so he let Kawaii-Chan hang onto his arm for the night. After a while, the two fell asleep, Zane turned his body while in deep sleep, resting his other arm on Kawaii-Chan. Kawaii-Chan's ear twitched and opened one of her eyes, she blushed and got a little closer to Zane. She curled up against his chest, she gently kissed his lips before closing her eyes again. Zane gently wrapped his arms around Kawaii-Chan, bring her a little closer towards him.