~Natsuo POV~
Shū leads me to an area out of (Y/n)'s sight. Releasing the sigh I've been holding back for a while now, my thoughts begin to wander. '(Y/n) (L/n). A girl that somehow knows just how to push my buttons. Ugh, I can't believe I'm bonded to her of all people, for life! D*mn, I'm so gonnna kick the bucket soon if this keeps up. Hopefully by then, though, I get her to hate me and she'll leave. Her family and her would be safer that way. So I gotta speed this up. The further I am from her the better. This can only work if Travis didn't send the image of what (Y/n) looks like. D*mn them and their stupid connections with witches! Ugh, what a pain...but I just don't wanna see her get hu-rt...'
I feel my brows furrow in disbelief and confusion. 'What the absolute heck?! This bond sh*t is already affecting my thinking. D*rn it! I really don't need this! There's no place for this kind of thing in my life. Not now, not ever. My life isn't even stable for me to even tale care of myself but now I gotta take care of her too! I can't let her get too involved with me, and besides, my belief on the whole subject of mates plus being a hybrid, is another srory altogether. Two wrongs can never make a right. I'm sorry, please forgive me; mum, dad...and (Y/n). I can't and I'm not gonna keep putting innocent people at risk. Not for something like this. Definitely not for something stupid as a mate bond.'
I'm snapped out of my thoughts when I bump into something. My bad, I mean someone. That someone being Shū. He places his hands on my shoulders, asking, "What's the face for? You alright?" Shrugging out of his hold, I sigh, running a hand through my hair. "Yeah, I guess..." Shū removes his hands from my shoulders and takes out his knife, "Don't guess, Natsu. Start talking. I can listen, also take off your shirt; I need to make those wounds." I nod, as he taps his knife against my chest through the shirt emphasizing his point.
Taking off the shirt, I begin telling Shū what's been on my mind. He nods in understanding as he slices the knife across my abdomen. I wince. "I know th don't like the concept of mates and all things related, but think about it, Natsuo. All this time you've been without her. You've been alone and-"
"I haven't been alone. I had and still have you guys.", I interrupt. Shū glares at me, I chuckle, "Sorry." He sighs continuing, "What I meant was, you haven't had bonds with anyone like that of a child and their parents or with a significant other. You don't know how to feel about these bonds, let alone, how to react to them. Besides the bond of friendship, you need a bond of love between you and someone else, that being your mate." Shū steps behind me and I feel him place the knife against my back. The cold metal cuts through my skin and I suck in a breath.
"I-I don't need that kind of thing in my li-", now Shū interrupts me. "You do. No matterhow much you try to deny it, you do need it. We all do. I don't think you see love as anything more than trouble and heartache; but look at your parents. Natsuo, they still fell in love with each other, despite the rules and consequences of doing so. They were mate's and embraced it. They risked it all and had you. If that doesn't scream something positive about love, then I've got to really knock it into that thick skull if yours.", he finishes by tapping the knife's handle against my temple.
I grit out, "Yea, their love made me, but look at what happened to them! They're dead and gone! They left me! How on earth can love be so great, when all it does is take away precious things, people... How can love be so good when it costs people their lives?! Tell me how?!...Tell me,...Shū..."
Shū sighs before stepping infront of me again. Placing his hand on my left shoulder, he starts, "I know your life was not that great, and yeah, the love between your parents cost them their lives but just look at the legacy their love left behind. It's you, Natsuo. A hybrid. A strong, capable and sometimes a**h*lish hybrid." At that I shove him playfully. He chuckles before continuing, "But despite all that, he is a guy that is willing to get hurt trying to protect his mate and her family, as well as many other innocent people related to them, though he tries to deny it." I huff.
Shū chuckles, "You're not denying it~." Rolling my eyes, I reply, "Yeah, whatever. Get back to making those cuts, would ya? You're making me have a headache." A mischievous spark ignites in Shū's eyes before he says, "A headache of love and acceptance. A headache caused by you going against being a douche and finally appreciating your dearest friend, who is really smart and was able to make past your stubbornness to allow you to see the light!"
Flicking his forehead, I chuckle, "Whatever helps yu sleep at night, man." He pouts, "Meanie.", before going back to completing the task he was supposed to do in the first place. Once done, he walks round me to head to where (Y/n) is, while wiping his blade on his handkerchief. I slip my shirt on, wincing at the newly made cuts as my skin stretches as I move. Once I'm done, I end up staring blankly in the direction of where I can smell (Y/n)'s scent.
"Y'know, just give the bond a chance. Remember, you're mates because you compliment and complete one another. You're MFEO.", Shū chirps. At my confused stare, Shū chuckles, "Means, Made For Each Other." I roll my eyes, "Cheesy.", I say before I start walking. Shū chuckles, jogging to catch up to me, leaves crunching under his boots, "Maybe, but it's totally true and you know it." He smirks at me.