(Warning, this starts off as angst)

Karai had been having a hard time lately, already with trying to build up the Foot clan again, and now her father, her true father, has passed. It hurt to think that she couldn't be there to stop it. Every day she blamed her self for getting hurt in the first place and not being there to help take him down. She wasn't there. She didn't even go to her own father's funeral. She hated her self for it every day; for all of it.

She was weak. Maybe she wasn't meant to make the Foot clan strong again, since she wasn't. She couldn't even keep her best friend safe, or even keep her father alive, how was she supposed to make the clan strong again?

Her mind was filled was thoughts similar to those as she sat upon the roof of the Foot hideout. Her knees pulled up to her chest as she stared at the city. She wasn't in her usual armor, she was in her pjs. A long sleeve black shirt and dark gray shorts. She felt the cold wind blow through her un-styled hair; the past two weeks she hadn't bothered to cut it, dye it or style it.

The cold breeze suddenly stopped, and she raised her head as she tried to figure out why, that's when she noticed her true love her best friend standing beside her. Shinigami smiled down at her, but she had a hint of worry in her eyes. Karai mumbled a thanks as she pulled the blanket tighter around her self, her gaze returning to the city. She barely noticed when Shini sat beside her. Shini was also in her pjs; a black tank top and black shorts; which wasn't surprising since it was about 2 a.m. last she had checked. Normally they'd both be in their rooms sleeping, or, trying to. Karai hadn't slept much the past few weeks, which clearly showed in her skin tone, eyes, face and movements. She was slow and didn't react very much to anything.

She felt some confusion when she suddenly felt pressure on her body, she turned her head to see Shini hugging her, causing her heart to do something she didn't quite understand; but she leaned into her touch anyways. No words spoken between them as they sat on the roof top, it wasn't an awkward silence, but a pleasant one.

At first she tensed when she felt a hand on her head, but quickly relaxed when she remembered when it was just Shini, no threat, no intent to harm, nothing to worry about in this moment. She couldn't help but close her eyes as her friend stroked her hair, all her muscles relaxing, like they hadn't in so long.

She tried to fight it, but she found her body begining to shake and tears starting to force their way out of her closed eyes, then the shakes turned to sobs as she felt her self falling apart. Shini simply held her, stoking her hair and speaking to her in japanese, trying to soothe her future wife best friend. What she heard next shocked her, and caused her heart to twist.

"It's all my fault, he's dead and it's all my fault! Why am I so weak!?" Karai weakly yelled as she sobbed, her hands turning into fists, it felt good to finally say it out loud and not let it bounce around in her head; but it also made her feel sick to know that Shini had heard what she wanted to keep a secret.

After what felt like hours, but was only a few minutes, Karai had stopped crying and was once more quiet

"How can I become the leader of a clan..when I can't even-" Karai started only to go into stunned silence when there was a sudden yell

"Stop! Enough!" Shini yelled, her accent thick, but her voice unwavering. She turned Karai towards her and held her face in her hands

"It is not your fault. None of it is. There is nothing we could have done. Had you have been there you would have only gotten more severely hurt, or..or worse" Shini said as her eyes watered slightly, but her tone of voice was the same. A look of determination in her eyes

"B-but-"

"But nothing! You were hospitalized, and I nearly was as well. It has nothing to do with being strong or weak, that man; that creature is gone, and thats all that matters. We are alive and the creature that has plagued your life is gone. He may have taken someone dear to us with him, but your father would be proud of you. You are alive. That's all that matters." Her voice had softened by now, but her gaze did not. Karai could feel her self breaking again, her sobs taking over her body once more.

Shini gently raised Karai's head and gently put her hands on her cheeks. She smiled at her friends tear covered face, using her thumbs to gently wipe the tears away

"You're alive, and thats all that matters." She repeats, a few of her own tears falling. She leaned forward and gently kissed her forhead. Karai suddenly pulled Shini close and hugged her, her face buried into her shoulder. Shini felt a smile fight it's way on to tear stained face, holding her love friend close.

They sat like that for nearly half an hour before Shini realized Karai had fallen asleep. She gently moved away and picked up the smaller girl, carefully carrying her into their shared home, walking into Karai's bedroom she gently sets her down, only to be startled when she feels something press against her lips. She froze at the sudden contact, but as soon as it came it was gone, leaving her staring down at her friend in shock. Karai had a smile on her face

"Stay?" She asks, a hint of fear in her eyes, fearful of rejection. Shini felt a smile appearing on her own face, nodding

"Of course." She says, laying down besides Karai. She pulled the blanket over the both of them and gently wrapped an arm around the smaller girls body, kissing her temple before mumbling a quiet 'goodnight' to her as she laid down, both girls quickly falling asleep in each other's arms