King's huge frickin' book of randomness galore:The ultimate

Let's meet at the witch's gathering

"Hic...."

"Hic..."

The child cried alone.

They had no one.

"Sniff..."

They tried to stay strong....

"Hic..."

But what was the point?

No one could see them.

No one would care.

They were alone.

They would always be alone.

"Hey."

....or so they thought.

"H-huh?"

"What are you doing by yourself, boy?"

"I-I......I'm alone....There is no one for me to go back to, Ma'am...."

The woman's eyes were hard as steel, and held no visible emotion besides bothersome curiosity.

"You lie."

"...What?"

"Have you forgotten already, brat? You're my charge, remember? You have my home to come back to, for better or worse......Typically the latter."

"...A-am I not a burden to you, ma'am?"

"Is that what I asked or said? Honestly, you're starting to annoy me.....Come. Don't wander off again, or I'm hexing you."

The woman's words were harsh, but what the boy had known, and deep-down, he knew there to be light in the bitter witch's heart.

"...O-okay...."

Afterall......

"Are you alright, miss Jade?"

"You needn't worry about me, brat. I'm /your/ care-taker, afterall. Don't get cocky because you know how to swing a sword."

"Right, right, I dare not, miss Jade. It's only that, after all you've done for me...."

He embraced the woman, smiling softly.

"I figure it's about time for me to care for you."

"....H-hmph.....A-as you should...."

It was the witch who did him the most good.