Ten days have passed and I smiled as I heard her approaching. I watched her hovering around me, watching the way she prepared the food and the way she tended to my wounds. I knew how bad the food was but I craved for it. For it represents her heart, the one thing I admired the most. It was her essence. She must have noticed my stare for she looked uncomfortably at me, confused and a little embarrased.

"Is there something on my face?" she asked and leaned nearer as if trying to see her reflection in my eyes. My heart lurched at her nearness and I was overwhelmed by her scent. I raised my hands, wanting to touch her, to feel her and slowly raised it towards her cheeks but I pulled back on time as I saw her looking strangely at me.

"Stupid," I thought " She almost noticed and I knew the repercussions of that. I could lose her if I give in to my emotions."How really stupid of me!"

"Hey, what's wrong with you?" she demanded "Is there something on my face. Remove it, please!?!"

I almost laughed at her words. Yes, there was something on her face. There was HER, my life and my warmth.

She raised her hands towards her face, looking for the nonexistent dirt, dirtying her face in the process. I touched her hands gently as I removed the smudge on her face. Gliding my fingers softly over her face, loving the smoothness and the softness of it. I must have lingered longer for she froze at my actions and her face reddened. I reluctantly removed my hands, fisting it, trying to retain her softness.

"There, it's all done!" I mumbled.

"Enishi-san, you know you still have to eat the food, right? You won't work your way out of it!" she teasingly remarked.

"I can't?" I replied, as I joined in her teasing, a little bit shocked at myself.

"Hey, where did Enishi-san go? What'd you do to him?" she teased, then began to laugh uproariously at her own remark. Her laughter was so contagious that I almost joined in her mirth. My lips twitched and I had to control myself from laughing along with her but unable to contain it, I smiled at her absurdity. She stopped, shocked at my reaction.

"You don't smile very well, you know," she joked. "You should do it more often. Maybe you'll get the hang of it. Hey, now that I think about it, you want me to teach you?" she asked outrageously.

Observing my silence, she smiled and said, " You're a tough pupil, huh? Well, so let me do it, ok. Widen your lips." She leaned towards me and reached for mouth, stretched it. "Hmm, that won't do. You look like a clown. Ha!ha!ha! You do look like a clown!" and seeing my face, she started laughing again until she couldn't breath and I loved watching her. Her head thrown back and her face flushed.

Oh, to be carefree again, how I craved for it and it was heaven sharing her laughter. And I knew how it would feel like to have her in my life. There would be laughter, warmth and most of all, love. For she has lots of love to give. So much that she even shares a little bit of it with me.

I froze as I heard footsteps approaching us, knowing immediately that they were the residents of Rakuninmura. She must have heard it too for she stopped laughing and got up and started to once again prepare the food, her face still flushed from lauging.

"Here," she said, smiling at me, " Try not to look so tortured this time!"

I smiled at that and murmured,"I probably can cook better than you."

"Hey, I heard that!Hmmm, then maybe you should teach me!" she replied, "Hey, maybe you could teach me some Chinese foods. I like this, I'll bring the utensils tomorrow and I'll shop for the ingredients. What do we need?"

I almost choked on the food at her proposal. For I have never cooked in my entire life. Looking at her hopeful eyes, I realized that I wanted to share something with her. I don't care if my soul is damned forever but I wanted some heaven in this lifetime. And for once I let go of the bitterness, guilt and hate inside myself and I turned back to the person I wanted to be, a person just like her.

"Umm, maybe we could start with some fried vegetables. We need some potatoes, carrots, cauliflower..." I said explaining what those vegetables are. And for once in my life, I felt free, free to accept friendship, her friendship. She was taken aback by my attitude and smiled, accepting my change.

The other day, I found her carrying the needed vegetables and utensils as I prepared the fire. Taking charge of the situation, I tooked the pan and placed it over the fire.

"First, remember to place just a small amount of oil. Then place the meat and watch it as it turns golden." Not really knowing what the next procedure was, I decided to just pour all the vegetables, add water and some seasoning and just wait for it to be cooked. I almost laughed at her intense concentration, seeming to memorize what I'm telling her.

I glanced at the food which was really looking overcooked and I seem to have added too much water for the vegetables were floating. I blew on the fire trying to evaporate the water. But since the vegetables were really looking unappetizing, I decided to remove it from the fire.

"Is it all done?" she asked excitedly.

"Umm, yes." I mumbled, not really wanting to eat what I cooked with it looking like soup, a soggy soup, that is. She poured it to the two bowls she brought with her while I swallowed my laughter at her confused expression at the state of my cooking. She took her chopsticks and reluctantly dug on her food. I did the same and I almost gagged at the awful taste. I looked at her and saw the same expression and unable to contain my laughter, I finally gave in and laughed.

"Ooops, I really don't know how to cook. Eheheh! Come to think of it, you do cook better than me!" I said as I stopped laughing, glancing at her and I warily moved back as I saw her thunderous expression.

"E-NI-SHI! WHY YOU!!!!"

"Eheheh! Umm, sorry?" I said, raising my hands placatingly as I cautiosly started backing away as I saw her reach for her bokken. Watching her expression, I found it safest to just run as she started stalking me and started running too, chasing after me. We were both laughing as we ran. And I savored every moment of it. I knew the residents were shocked but I didn't care. I finally let her caught up with me and I sported bruises the whole week.

Curious at the way she handled her bokken, I saw her potential and I offered to help her. Reluctant at first, she finally accepted and I decided to train her as a form of apology. I was very excited to learn how far she could go. It was very enjoyable teaching her. Her enthusiasm for learning was very catching. She makes you want to teach her more.

"Hey, Enishi-san, was I fast enough?" she asked eagerly.

"That was faster but you need more speed to execute that move. Try twisting your right foot to the left. No!no!no! not that much. Yes! That's perfect. Now, use that as a pivot point as you execute the move."

I smiled as as she executed the move perfectly. For two weeks, I taught her and I became very accustomed with her laughter, her enthusiasm and her care. Never minding the thought that she had another family and another man she loves outside my world. Until, he appeared one day with her.

I saw both of them approaching me and I saw him watching her protectively, his hand hovering over his sakabatou while his other hand held her left hand, clasping it protectively, claiming her as his. I smiled bitterly at the picture they presented.