Treated Better (Normal Version)

Page Twenty-Three

Mizuki: And... Gotcha! That should be all I need for dinner. Now let's see... I could go to Lookout Landing, but they're probably there today. I obviously can't go to Tarry Town... I'm near Snowfield Stable, maybe it would be okay. Orochium Shrine here I come.

Vishnu: Mizuki?!

Mizuki didn't hesitate, she began running away from Vishnu. She wasn't in the mood to talk with him, or anyone really. She hopped down into Tanagar Canyon and headed to the Forgotten Temple.

Mizuki: Please don't follow me in here, I don't wanna talk.

Ghirahim: Don't wanna talk to who Doll?

Mizuki: Oh, Ghirahim, hi. I'm uh... hiding from my friends right now.

Ghirahim: You said the word "friends" as if you were disgusted by it, did something happen?

Mizuki: I started an argument without meaning to... I just wanted to talk.

Mizuki's eyes filled with tears. Ghirahim observed her, noticing her unkept look.

Mizuki: Why did they lie to me? Why did they hide stuff from me? I've been living in the wilderness for a week now, yet they still seem to track me down. I'm so tired of this.

Ghirahim: They hid something from you? What did they hide that was so important?

Mizuki: Information... Information I needed to help get my memories back.

...

Mizuki: Am I the asshole here? They promised to help me remember stuff and then didn't tell me about half of the people I fought alongside. Any person, place, or events that included you they skipped over. If I hadn't met you that day I wouldn't have remembered basically anything about the war.

Ghirahim: If I remember correctly, you scared them.

Mizuki: What?

Ghirahim: You scared them. Your anger and sadness, you became so different from the Mizuki they knew. That wasn't good for you, and they definitely didn't enjoy it either.

Mizuki: So what? They could just let me Stable hop until I felt better. That's what I planned to do, but they always seemed to be at the Stables I visited.

Ghirahim: You've been sleeping out in the woods?

Mizuki: Mhm, I have a tent. I'm used to being in the wild for days at a time. Ever since my injury they haven't let me spend more than three days out though. I used to be able to be out for months, as long as I visited home once a week. Heck, the only reason I look as bad as I do is because I've been crying for the past week.

Ghirahim: C'mon, I know a spot where you can stay. But we are going to talk with your friends at some point.

Mizuki: We?

Ghirahim: I'm the reason they kept the information from you, it's only right that I help fix this... Shall we?

Mizuki took his hand and squeezed it, she hadn't realized how much she wanted to hold hands with someone again. Almost seven whole years without the touch she desired. Mizuki craved the touch of another person, she wanted to hold someone again. Her friends held her hand, hugged her, and held her when she needed them... But that wasn't what she wanted. Mizuki wanted him, his feeling was irreplaceable for her. Ghirahim was thinking quite the same, he had waited tens of thousands of years to see her again. He had missed Mizuki all throughout those years. No other person made him feel as strongly as she did, he had tried to move on. They didn't dare release each other from their grip. They held on as if it would be the last time they could touch.

Mizuki: Ghirahim, can we stay like this for a bit?

Ghirahim: Have you missed me that much Doll?

Mizuki: As of right now I'm going to say yes.

...

Mizuki: Will you tell me what happened?

Ghirahim: I... don't want to lose you again.

Mizuki: I'll remember it eventually... Please, I need to know why my friends insisted that I would be better off without those memories.

Ghirahim recounted the event that tore them apart. He didn't deserve her forgiveness, he knew that, but he still looked at Mizuki with pleading eyes. As he spoke Mizuki's memories came back, as if the final puzzle piece was found and placed. She was overwhelmed with anger and sadness, but rather than yelling at him or slapping him, she hugged him.

Mizuki: Promise me you've actually changed this time. Promise you won't use me again.

Ghirahim: I promise, and I'm more than willing to prove that.

Mizuki: Then I will stay in contact with you. You can earn my trust again, slow and steady.

As Mizuki went to stop hugging him he pulled her back.

Ghirahim: I've missed having your hands on me, let me enjoy this for a bit longer.

...

Ghirahim: What makes you so special? Over the many years we were apart I dated many other people... None of them made me feel the way you did. They couldn't even compare to how I feel now... What makes you different Doll?

Mizuki: Probably my genuine care for people, despite their background. I never cared about you, Zant or Ganon being on the "bad side", once you earned my respect I was willing to fight alongside you... I was willing to fight for you, I wanted to help. Outside of battle you were still good to me, aside from using me... I never minded that you were a demon, or a sword spirit. It might have been my overconfidence though... I remember shamelessly teasing you, you probably weren't used to people doing that. If anyone else called you a good dog you would kill them. But my good boy wouldn't hurt me would he?

Ghirahim: Don't start this again.

Mizuki: I'll stop if you help me with counting the gems I collected. I need around 9,000 Rupees, for a house, because I'm not living with just a bedroom for months. If Imma get a house I'm gonna finish it before living in it.

Ghirahim: So you need 9,000 Rupees?

Mizuki: For the design I want... The land is a third of the cost.

Ghirahim: Fine, I'll help you count...