Pretear Fan Fiction ❯ Field Full of Daisies ❯ Love, Angst, and Insanity ( Chapter 10 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Field Full Of Daisies-Love, Angst, and Insanity

"When am I coming home?" Kagura asked. Kaoru stared down at her sympathetically. He hated to see his little girl like this. She looked like she was about to cry. That's when he reflected on what the doctor had told him earlier.

"We've found the reason for her passing out. It was impossible to notice at birth but now that she's developed more, we can see that the problem's her brain. The average human uses only ten percent of their brain. The highest reported being fifteen. Your daughter uses thirty-eight percent. This would make her smarter than usual if she tries at it. She's able to retain more information than the average human. But she hasn't learned how to deal with it yet. Even the slightest stress causes her to go into a panic. And her sanity isn' all there. Imaginary visions cloud her sight on reality. If you were to take her home, we'd have to send you her medicine. She is now taking two pills and one shot a day to keep her normal. The medicine is just to keep her as she was before, help her build up a tolerance to her brain capability. Soon it'll be just one shot a week, one shot every two weeks, one shot a month, until she doesn't need it anymore, most likely when she's an adult, probably twenty two, three. We were suspicious of the twin too so we checked her. She uses seventeen percent. We've ordered that she take one shot every two months just to be on the safe side. But she may be released home. But we suspect that your other daughter has a high mutation rate within her genetic make-up. If she does, then it's likely that your other daughter does too. We only need one of them. You must understand that we haven't come across something like this, ever. But, we can't run any scientifictests without your permission, Mr.Awayuki."

His wife practically threw a fit when he agreed to it. He thought it would help, and he didn't want Kagura coming home until he was sure she was alright. But his daughter, she looked absolutely miserable here. "Soon, Kagi. Soon," was all he could say. Her mother walked around the table and picked her daughter up in an airtight hug. This holding area for patients behind the hospital looked like a jail. She couldn't stand sleeping in her bed when she knew one of her babies was locked away in a small room with the bare minimum, in a holding area for the clinically insane. She got out of her sick bed every day to come see Kagura.

"I want her out of here now, Kaoru," she hissed. He'd never seen her so angry before she was here. Then he felt a slight tug on his sleeve.

"I want Kagura to come home too daddy. I don't like being an only child. I miss Kagura."

"Everyone here treats me weird mommy. They stare at me. They make me go to sleep a lot. They keep pokin' me with needles that isn't my shot. Then I said I was going to tell my mommy and he said he didn't care then they gave me another shot that wasn't my shot to make me go to sleep again then I woke up under this huuuuge metal thingy and it was scary and all these people were sittin' around staring at me and they feed me nasty food and treat me like a dog and they hit me sometimes and...and...and I wanna go home!" Her mother shot Kaoru a nasty look.

"If you don't get her out today I'll take her with me myself."

"I'll, have a talk with the doctors then."

"Visiting hours are over."

"Kaoru."

"Dad."

"I'm not leaving."

A man walked toward the family. "It's time to go, Kagi-"

"DON'T CALL ME KAGI! YOU'RE NOT MY DAD!" The man severed Kagura's grip on her mother and dragged her off out of the visiting area. "MOM!"

"Kaoru, you get my baby out of here this INSTANT!"

"...dad...I don't want Kagura to leave."

"MOM! MAKE HIM STOP!"

Kagura thrust forward, so fast, she almost flew out of bed. It had been almost forever since she's had a dream about that. Usually because her mind was plagued by Maki and past Saint business, she barely ever thought about it. She never liked thinking about it. Before, she'd just drink and forget the dream ever happened. Maybe smoke a joint with Psy, B, and Maki. That's what she would have done before anyway. For now, all she could do was, stay awake...

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Himeno had just gotten her shot for the year. Himeno was practically giddy with excitement. Too bad the same couldn't be said for Kagura. The nurse practically frowned her up and down while instructing her on what NOT to do. "He's up and trying to walk with crutches. He's still here for rehabilitation and we haven't told him you tried killing him...twice. And we prefer to keep it that way. I know you're a good girl Kagura but you need to start acting like it."

"I have been a good girl. Of course, our definitions differ. I call being a good girl, acting as a father, mother, and sister to Himeno when no one else was around to do the job. So unless you're going to argue with me about that, let's get this over with. I'm wasting my Sunday."

The nurse frowned again before forcing a smile on her face. Kagura returned it with a sarcastic one. "Right this way girls," she said, walking down the hall.

"Yes ma'am." Himeno then whispered to Kagura. "Stop being so rude. You'll see. Maybe after dad woke up, he won't be the same anymore. No more drinking and neglect. He'll be just like before when mom was around."

"And if he isn't, don't cry over it. Besides, we live with Sanma now."

Himeno pouted as they neared the room. "I know. And Sanma's a good mom. She does her best anyway. But I miss dad."

They walked into the already open room. Inside was Kaoru, sitting up in bed, with the rich part time nurse who owned the city, Natsue Kogo-sama. They were playing cards on an end table. Laughing it up as if they've been old friends. The nurse who led them there walked away, giving Kagura a warning glance, which the redhead ignored. Himeno was speechless and the two inside didn't even notice them in the doorway. Kagura banged hard against the open door twice and the two jump, startled. "A little attention over here. We didn't come all this way to be ignored...again."

Himeno ignored her sister's bitter words for the moment. She was too captivated with her father's presence. There he was, laughing like he used to. Awake for the first time since she was eight years old. And he was staring at them with wide eyes, filling with tears. "...hi...dad."

"Himeno. Kagura. You've...grown...a lot since I've seen you last."

Himeno ran up to his bedside and hugged him. He wrapped his arms tight around her, tears falling down. Then he looked up at his other daughter who walked over and sat at a chair near the doorway. "Heh, yeah," she said with an evil little smirk. "I almost forgot you existed. You've been in that coma for so long."

Kaoru looked hurt but still put a stern frown on his face. "I know you're angry with me but I am still your father and you won't disrespect me-"

"Oh don't give me that bullshit authoritative look because I do it better. I'm not angry with you anymore. I'm not sad with you, I'm not stressed with you, I'm nothing with you because you're nothing to me. The man that was an actual father to me died when my mother died-"

"Kagura!" Himeno shouted for her to stop. Kagura just glanced in her direction and Himeno found her place on the food chain again. She hated sometimes how Kagura just looking at her made her feel so small.

"But if you feel like I disrespected you-" Kagura began, "...then I apologize. For some weird reason, Himeno still likes you and that's enough for me to have to respect you." Natsue had just sat there staring during the entire ordeal. That's when Kagura looked at her and caught her staring intensely in her direction. "Is there something about me that interests you or do you stare so rudely at everyone?"

Natsue snapped out of her thoughts and smiled. "My apologies. I'll just leave you three alone."

"Nooo, stay," Kagura smiled. "The more, the better, right?"

"Um.." She glanced over at Kaoru.

"We'd love for you to stay," he smiled but it was more like a sad one.

That evening, when Kaguragot home, Himeno rushed next door. Ayanami had offered to cook them dinner when they got home. Kagura followed close behind, practically starving. Just what she needed after a wasted day, full on food! Food that wasn't burned anyway... Himeno helped set the table while Hayate sat in the dining room and watched. "So how'd it go?"

Himeno smiled at him from ear to ear and he'd never seen her so happy. "It was great! But my dad pretty much sucks at cards though. We played spades most of the time. Kagura's really good at it. A Kogo-sama was pretty good too."

"Ko-...go? As in Natsue Kogo?"

"Yeah. She helps the hospital in Jyouh out as a part time nurse."

"Wow. And how'd Kagura take it?"

"Why don't you just ask me yourself?" Hayate jumped a little. She had a way of surprising him, popping up out of no where without a sound.

"Will you stop doing that!"

"Where's your brother?"

"He's in his room with Mawata studying proper English for that student counsel thing. There's an American ambassador coming to check out the school and select a few of the smartest to go to college in America's best with a different education made to challenge you more by some of the best professors or something like that."

"Uh-huh," she said raising an eyebrow. Then she sat down beside Hayate and now he looked at her oddly.

"Aren't you going to go up there?"

"Why? they're studying. I should leave them alone."

"I just thought...nevermind."

"Just because he has a girl in his room doesn't mean I'm going to barge in there and interrupt. What he chooses to do isn't my business really."

"Is someone jealous?" Ayanami smiled. Now she was the one that surprised Kagura and her face was lined with a faint pink.

"Why should I be?"

"You children are so adorable," she smiled. "The food will be here in a minute. Why don't you go get Sasame and tell him to come down and eat."

"I think I heard Hayate say he wanted to," she lied.

"No I didn't." Kagura elbowed his side. "OW! Violent woman!"

"See, he says no. Now you go now. I insist." Ayanami practically lifted Kagura from her seat and nudged her out of the room. Himeno giggled at the sight.

"Alright, alright. I'm going." Kagura jogged up the stairs and walked toward his room. The door was wide open and she popped her head in. "Heeeeeey," she smiled.

The two looked a little stressed and serious. There were books and papers lying everywhere. You couldn't expect any less from the two school representatives. Sasame looked up and smiled. "Hey Kagura."

"Hello Kagura," Mawata greeted. She only momentarily looked up from the book she had her nose buried in.

Kagura took another look at the mess. "Geez. You make speaking English look so hard."

"And I suppose you know the language," Mawata commented, not looking up.

"Well yeah. That and three others. How hard is it to say 'Hello. We're the school representatives and we'll be showing you around today. Not to mention kissing your ass the entire way. Hope you have fun!' Easy stuff...what? I read a lot at the ADOC."

Now they were both staring at her. Some of the words they hadn't understood. (Lidia- They don't know English curse words. And Kagura learned from books and tourists.) "Then maybe you could help us," Sasame smiled. Mawata frowned a little more. She usually wasn't one to waste her time hating someone but this girl just popped ina minute ago and was already captivating so much of her Prince's attention. Kagura noticed the frown and rolled her eyes.

"Your mom said come down and eat. You stickin' around Mawata? The food kicks ass."

Sasame paused in his reading for a while. I got the impression that Kagura didn't like Mawata. And since when was she so friendly?

Mawata winced at her choice of words before glancing at Sasame. "Sure, if the host doesn't mind."

Kagura smiled again. "I'll ask." Pompous bitch.

"Alright." 'Kicks Ass'? Expand your vocabulary you intrusive wench.

Kagura disappeared and Sasame started cleaning up the large mess on his floor. "That should be all for the day anyway. We'll do fine."

"You're probably right." The two walked down stairs to see Kagura making Hayate uncomfortable with her teasing as usual. As soon as Mawata and Sasame walked in, things quieted down. Himeno just stared with a smile on her face. All she said was 'hello', trying to limit words that might come out as giggles. She loved drama a little to much in Kagura's opinion. Himeno sat directly across from Kagura, Sasame sat beside Kagura and Mawata beside him. Sanma and Ayanami sat together too. And the old blonde had the most interested smile on her face. Himeno and Ayanami had so much in common.

"I haven't seen you since that visit I made to your middle school Mawata," Ayanami smiled. Mawata smiled back. "How have you been?"

"Fine," she replied before beginning to eat.

"All of you go to the same school. Are you all friends?"

"Something like that," she replied before glancing at Kagura.

Kagura caught her glances and sighed loudly. Her plan really was to skate through dinner and go home, but now she'd rather make Mawata feel uneasy. “I might as well tell you the truth since there's no point in lying. Mawata doesn't like me. I don't know why, she just doesn't.” That was a half-truth. She did know why, Sasame was the only one who didn't.

“Why would she not like you after you're the one who asked that she stay for dinner?” Ayanami looked from Kagura to Mawata.

“I never said I didn't like her-“

“You may not have said it, but you still don't like me. Correct?”

Mawata was caught off guard a little but still kept up with her usually good choices in words. “Well, I admit we have our differences and don't get along too well but-“

“And why is that?” Kagura asked, with a curious look on her face but Mawata could tell she was smirking on the inside. Sasame just stared back and forth, sighing at the fact that dinner would probably be full of tension after their conversation ended. “Did I violate you in some way?” She glanced at Sasame quickly then back at Mawata and she noticed. “Or is it because I may have gotten to something you wanted before you?”

Mawata wanted to frown but didn't. You haven't even been here as long as I have and you're already causing me stress you EVIL WENCH!

Kagura just stared, waiting for her reply. What? Perfect little Mawata hesitating on something to say? Rich bitch can't get everything she wants.

“No. Nothing like that. Sometimes personalities just don't go together. For instance, I'm polite, well mannered, well brought up, and sociable, where as you, Kagura…well it would just be more polite to say you aren't.”

Sanma was becoming nervous. She leaned over to her friend. “S-Should we be l-letting them carry on like th-this?” she whispered.

“O it's no big deal. If it gets out of hand which it won't, I'll have my sons grab either one.”

“Really? I'd like to think of myself as…unique. I may not be the nicest, but I'm nice to people who I'm usually seen with. Isn't that right Sasame?”

Sasame froze in his chair. “Uh…yeah.”

“And more than that, I'm brutally honest. Which you aren't. And it would be the honest thing to tell you that I think you're…a really nice girl…for now anyway. I wonder what angry thoughts you bottle up when you smile so often.”

“I try not to plague my mind with meaningless thoughts like that.”

“Just because you're trying doesn't mean it's working,” Kagura said, now grinning.

Mawata stared down at her food for a while. She took one last bite before standing. “I'll be going now.”

Sasame looked up. “Already? But you didn't finish your food.”

“Yeah. It wouldn't be polite or well mannered to let it go to waste,” Kagura smiled. Mawata just looked down at her, frowning openly for the first time.

“I'm sure the host family will excuse me this once.” She walked out with not so much as a good-bye wave. Though that didn't stop Kagura from shouting a `See You At School' on her way out the door. After the front door closed, everyone stared at Kagura who ignored them.

She kept eating with a smile on her face before Himeno opened her mouth. “Kagura. You can't be serious. You scared Mawata off on purpose.”

“…no I didn't. She said she had to go and she didn't look afraid.”

“You know what I meant. I don't know what's with you and your sick little mind games but stop it,” she said, not really meaning it. Truth is, it was entertaining. The only person who didn't find it the same was Sasame.

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“Why is it that you don't like Mawata?” Sasame asked, a stern expression on his face that almost made Kagura laugh.

“Like she said. Some personalities just don't go together-“

“Cut the BS and tell the truth alright.” He crossed his arms now and this time Kagura did laugh.

“I'd normally have no problem blurting it out but I don't think she'd like me telling you very much.”

“Hm? Telling me what?”

“I just told you that I'm not telling you. Besides, that whole thing wasn't anything really. You've already seen me when I don't like people and that wasn't it. I barely know her anyway. She's easy to unnerve though.”

Sasame couldn't keep that stern expression long. He just couldn't stay angry at her. Even if she did have a tendency to be needlessly troublemaking at times. “What did the devil send me?” he muttered to himself before grabbing her from behind while she shuffled through his things again. “I'd appreciate it if you didn't clutter my desk trying to find something you won't.”

“And what am I looking for, eh?”

“I don't know but whatever it is, you're not going to find it.” Sasame turned her around and set her on top of the desk, just as his mother came bursting through the door. Sasame was startled yet expected it at the same time.

"O my. Kagura, the others are leaving. I'm about to go to bed so I'll see you tomorrow."

Kagura held in her laugh. "Yeah. I'm going to get going too. Later."

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That Monday at school, a number of students were missing, including Kyoko. During lunch, word spread quickly that some students had left to try joining the Tokian Saints. Lunch was less crowded and no Kyoko to bother Sasame. Kagura grimaced at the number missing. It wasn't like half the school left. That would be an exaggeration. But if you paid attention, you'd notice it wasn't the same. "It's a shame..."

Sasame looked at her. "What's a shame?"

"How many people are going to die this year."

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Once everything was over and done with, Psy, Berserk, and even Koriko were enraged. Not because of the event in total but because of who Maki decided to replace Knoctern. It wasn't just them, just as quickly as it happened word spread quick. A lot of people didn't like it. Even those who never like Knoctern to begin with were pretty pissed. Sure the red-head was a punk kid forced in at thirteen and still a punk kid when she got the leader position she never wanted to begin with, but she was more respectable than the girl chosen by what people said. Psy, Berserk, and Koriko had a private talk with Maki, shutting the new girl out for the moment. “Maki, we're friends right?” Berserk asked.

“Yes.”

“Brothers even?”

“You could say that.”

“Then you shouldn't mind me asking WHAT the hell are you thinking!”

“Now I don't know what you're talking about,” he asked with a sincere look of confusion displayed on his face. His golden hazel eyes scanned the three before him. They seemed pretty angry. “Well, you wanted to speak with me so out with it.”

“That girl,” Koriko began. “She's not even half capable of the job you gave her. How do you expect her to fill Knoctern's place?”

Now Maki was really confused. “If I recall, you never liked Kagura. Correct?”

“That's true. I didn't like Kagura. But for a brat, she was pretty good already when we first got her. It was easy to teach her and she learned quick. This one barely made it in and she knows close to nothing. Who's going to teach her, eh?”

“I taught Kagura. I can teach her.”

“At the first sign of blood, the bitch's gonna want out. Then what?”

“Then the second sign of blood will be her own,” he shrugged like it was nothing. “I'll shoot her and that'll be the end of it. Besides, I didn't choose her because of her capabilities. She was speaking with a few friends of hers. I over heard them talking about Kagura and how she was too chicken to show. I figured, if she's valuable, I'll use her for my own reasons, then be done with her when she's no longer needed.”

Psy's eyes narrowed. “You can't find another red-head to obsess over,” she frowned. “I hate seeing an old friend, my brother as I see it, so consumed and obsessed over one girl. There was I time when I hated seeing you sleeping around with so many women, and now you only have eyes for one, even when you're sleeping with others. I guess I have to be careful what I wish for, for now on.”

Maki stared at her for a while. “Mimi told you,” he smirked. “She always did have a big mouth. Right up to the time I put a gun in it. And Psy, do believe I have tried forgetting. I even thought she was dead and still couldn't forget. I once had a thing for blondes, you know? Now I can't even look at another woman without thinking about her. Hair that burned blood and eyes full of fire. I stabbed her and I still love her. Even when I know she hates me. I'm pathetic because I can't forget and I'll be pathetic if I do.”

They stared at him a while before the door opened. Everyone turned to see Kyoko standing in the doorway. “You weren't eavesdropping were you?” Maki asked, narrowing his eyes at her. She blushed again as she did when he first looked at her. A man as handsome as this had hand chosen her to take the place of such a legend because, maybe, he saw something in her. How could she even go back and swoon after a guy like Sasame when there was a real man standing before her with such a stunning face and body in general.

“Uh, N-No. I just walked up and didn't hear anything,” she replied. She had just walked into the building to see where everyone had went. “I'll go.” She was about to close the door again but Psy caught it and opened it again. She did it rather forcefully and Kyoko frowned at her while mentally cursing. And who the hell does she think she is?

“Don't give me that look. Just move the hell out of my way.” Before even letting her move, Psy aggressively bumped her out of the way and kept walking.

“You could have said `excuse me' dammit. Watch where you're going.” Kyoko had spoken out of anger and didn't regret it. She had to speak up early before these people thought they could start walking all over her. Psy turned around and her fist clashed with the side of her face. Kyoko spun around on her stomach and hit the floor pretty hard. Psy leaned down and yanked her head back by her hair while whispering in her ear.

“Drop the attitude if you can't back it up. Contrary to what you may think, you're at the bottom of the fucking FOOD CHAIN. Understood?” Psy waited a while for her to attempt a nod before letting go and walking out. Berserk stepped over her on his way out the door, and Kyoko kicked the girl on her way out. The only one who still stayed in the room was Maki.

“Starting now, you're going to have to learn how to pick yourself up.” He stared at her while she used the wall to get up, still crouched a bit. She looked up at Maki and he could see the look in her eyes. She wanted approval. She was practically depending on his opinion. She'll be easy to manipulate. He smiled at her and could see her visibly shudder. What made him sick was how dependant she was. A normal defenseless girl who didn't know what she was getting herself into and just screamed `take advantage of my vulnerability'. His smile became a bit more mischievous but she didn't know him, and therefore, didn't notice the difference. And Maki hadn't had a woman in his bed in good time. A long time. “You doing anything later?” She didn't look as shapely as Mimi but she'd have to do for the time being. At least until he got what he really wanted. The woman that blazed through the night and disappeared with the sunrise. Kagi… Maki had taken her out with the full intention of taking her out for a bite to eat, then back to her own home. He didn't want to seem too eager to get into her pants since he didn't really know for sure how long she'd take before caving and sleeping with him. But, the longer he stayed out with her, the more hints she dropped on the subject. Easy women didn't really suit him much. There's no fun if you give it up early. But he quickly dismissed denying her advances. Soon growing tired of playing games. Before he took her home, he ended up parking in a wooded area and tearing her clothes out of her while she grinded on him in broad day light. It wasn't the best he ever had but getting off is getting off so he couldn't complain. Maki kept his mouth busy, biting down on her from time to time every moment he got the urge to call her Kagura.

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That next day at school, Sasame noticed how Kyoko hadn't come to bug him during the `Learning The Human Body For The Mature Teen' video. It was odd but he wasn't complaining. It was relaxing even. She was leaned over on her desk and he wouldn't have noticed it due to the dark room if she didn't have a window seat. Her half shirt showed off the Saint tattoo on her lower back. And she was showing it off too. It wasn't against the rules to join gangs since there was no legal reason to ban the joining of organizations. But there was a rule against tattoos. But wait a minute, this was Kyoko he was talking about. Her family alone donated enough money to the school to have half of it named after them. They would too but the Kogo family wouldn't allow it. The principal probably just looked it over. After the video went off, they had a guest speaker. Some guy who came in to talk about teen pregnancy and abstinence. Many groaned loudly at this, even Kagura, which surprised him and made him blush at the same time. But then again, maybe she only objected to it because the talk would be long and boring. The man spoke with them and a few fell asleep, though their health teacher slammed his ruler on a few desks. Then the man asked a question. “Who in here practices abstinence?” he asked. Very few raised their hands. Not because they didn't but because it would be pretty pointless to. And most wanted to keep their business to themselves. He sighed. “Okay, I asked the wrong question. Who here doesn't practice abstinence?” he asked again. A few people raised their hands and people in the class laughed. Some only did it jokingly. The teacher frowned a bit. But Sasame burned red when he noticed Kagura's hand up too. She had a wicked smile on her face as well.

“Onee-chan, put your hand down,” Himeno giggled. “Keep your opinion to yourself.”

“Make me,” she said, sticking her tongue out at the tulip.

The teacher grew impatient and needed to make an example out of someone. Preferably a female so he could throw teen pregnancy in there as well. The punk in the back laughing maybe. “Is this supposed to be a joke to you?” The stern expression was directed toward Kagura and she didn't notice until everyone turned around and stared at her. She froze in her action of grinding her fist into her sister's head and looked around. “I'm talking to you with the red hair.”

Kagura stopped and slumped back in her chair, throwing a fake spoiled tantrum. “Why do the teachers always have to pick on me. I wasn't the only one who raised my hand ya know.”

Himeno laughed nervously. “So it is a joke to you?” He frowned further.

Now Kagura frowned back at him. “Just because I laugh about it doesn't mean I'm not serious. No I do not practice abstinence.”

He stared back at her. She break once he bombarded her with questions. “Even if you use protection or birth control, there is still a chance you will become pregnant. A lot of teens ruined their lives early because they got pregnant. Then what would you do?”

Everyone looked from him back to Kagura. What would she say to make the teacher feel stupid this time? It was entertaining having class with the girl. She seemed to enjoy making adults feel small when they got too arrogant. So why was she still in school anyway if she knew so much? A lot of people asked themselves that. Kagura stared at the man for a while. “I'll answer your question if you answer a couple of mines after,” she smiled.

“That's fine with me.” He said, with an intense stare. He suddenly felt heated. He didn't know if the heater was on too high due to cold weather or if just looking at those flaming eyes caused such a thing.

“First of all, if I got pregnant, it wouldn't be about what I'm going to do anymore. It would be about we, as in me and my child, are going to do. My life isn't ruined because I got knocked up, it's just added to. If life was perfect, it wouldn't be worth living. You're supposed to take the good and the bad, sir. Besides, what would you like me to do? Kill it? Yes, maybe that's what I should do since you claim, instead of the baby giving me more reasons to be happy and sad, it's just ruined my life. Is that a reasonable answer for you?”

“Yes it is-“

“Now I ask you, sir, do you have sex, honestly?”

He was a little taken back by the question but still answered in a dignified manner. “Yes, but I'm an adult and you are a child.”

Kagura cocked an eyebrow at him. “Really. I didn't think so. By Japanese law, I became an adult at sixteen. Which means, by this time, I can have all…the sex…I want,” she smirked. A few boys looked away, ashamed in themselves for becoming aroused by a person who ignored their very presence unless it came as a benefit for her. “But because we're still in school, you still treat us like children. Not only is Japan confused but you're about to be, because I don't see a wedding ring on your finger. Are you married…sir?”

“No, I'm not.”

“But I thought the whole point of abstinence was to wait until you got married, then have sex? And yet you said you've already had sex and you're not married.” He looked like he was about to say something but Kagura spoke above him, signaling it wasn't his turn yet. She needed him to stay quiet so she could corner him and render him unable to argue with her. “Some believe their definition of abstinence is to hold out until you're an adult. I became an adult on my sixteenth birthday as said by law. And you can't argue with the law unless you're important,” she said, implying that he wasn't. “You tell us not to have sex because we're children, but Japan doesn't think so. And if you tell us to wait `til marriage, and you aren't married, that would make you a hypocrite. So what is it? Is the entire country of JAPAN wrong for enforcing the sixteen law, or are you a hypocrite, sir? And for the record, I doubt the entire country is wrong and you are the only one right.”

They looked back at the teacher who only sighed in defeat. “I had a feeling there would be one of you out there. Which is why I also enforce safe sex,” he said, taking a bucket out that he hid behind the desk and set it on a desk up front. “One at a time and I encourage you to take as many as you need, and if you feel as though you don't need them, take one anyway.

Sasame felt a little awkward at the moment. Did that mean Kagura already had sex with someone? Why didn't she mention it before? He got up behind Hayate, grabbed one, and sat back down, glancing over at Kagura who sat two seats away, but didn't say anything. Yayoi smiled. “Score twenty-five, Kagura. Sensei-samas, zip.” Yayoi secretly envied her confidence she had in herself but at the same time, was glad it was Kagura who was confident and not she. Yayoi saw through Kagura's example, the down side of being so confident. Himeno walked up, paused for a moment, then grabbed an arm's full of condoms. The speaker practically fell over with surprise. Everyone was surprised as well. Giggly innocent little Himeno? When she got back to her desk, she made it evident that it was a joke. Still, Kagura frowned. She opened her bag and swept each and every one off her desk and into her bag.”

“Heeey,” she wined.

“You won't be needing those,” she frowned.

“C'mon Onee-chan, I was joking.”

“Joke aside, you still won't be needing them.” Then Kagura glanced over at Yayoi, who poked at it like a kid would a dead bird with a stick. Kagura plucked the blonde's from her too. “You're just as naïve as Himeno. You won't be needing that either.”

“Yes maaa'am,” she smiled.

Kagura smiled back. “See, she listens. Himeno, you should learn from Yayoi.” Himeno fake frowned. Then Kagura noticed Tetsu come sit beside Himeno and she snatched his too. “As long as you're dating my sister, you won't be needing that because you won't be having sex or doing anything sexual.”

“Kagura,” Himeno spouted, a little embarrassed. Tetsu just smirked. Sure, he had the power to tell Maki if she pissed him off, but he wasn't about to wreck progress he made with her sister already. “Well how come you don't take Sasame and Hayate's, eh?”

She snickered in their direction. “What are they going to do? Blow balloon animals?”

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“You wanted to talk to me?” Kagura asked as if she didn't already know what it was about. How could she have been so stupid to have blatantly put out the fact that she wasn't a virgin while Sasame was in the room. And she felt even worse for not telling him sooner. He, for the first time, looked a bit on the angry side. She just stood there, in the empty area he had brought her to, waiting for him to open his mouth and say something. `He didn't want to see her anymore after this' was what made her frown at him. He gave her this disbelieving look as to why she was looking at him like he was the one who did something wrong.

“Kagura,” he sighed. She just stood there, giving him a look as if to say `what?' He looked at her before his eyes dropped to the floor. “You could have told me at least. It wouldn't have been that big a deal if you were just up front about it.”

“I didn't think it was a big deal, period,” she replied with a shrug. It angered him a little more that she never took anything seriously…for the most part anyway.

“Just…could you tell me how many? Unless you'd like to keep that to yourself too?” he asked. The attitude in his tone along with having to remember brought a frown to her face.

(flash back)

It was the day immediately after the incident. Maki wanted to shoot himself for what he'd done to her. No meant no, understandable. But he'd just lost it. The only girl he'd ever actually loved and who loved him back. And when he tries to take it to the next level after waiting so long for her, she says no…no…not up front but she made it obvious she didn't want to. He'd walked her into the apartment knowing she'd say no, as she had before. The door rigged to be locked. He hated what she'd reduced him to. He couldn't look at another woman with the same lust anymore. He hadn't he sex since he'd been involved with her. It disgusted him, thinking back on the times he'd touched himself, wishing it were her. The dreams at night. He had gone insane. Sanity and guilt only returning to him after the horrible act. So why did he want so badly to take her into his arms and do it again? Kagura came walking down the hall. Her gun and sword temporarily taken from her at the building's front door by Psy. Kagura hadn't told her what happened to make her feel so…different was the only way you could describe it. The warmth in her eyes was…different…missing to be frank. Psy did, however, have a feeling it was between she and Maki. To avoid any problem blood shed, she'd taken her things from her. Kagura entered the office door and closed it, having a seat before his desk while he stared out the window. “You wanted to speak with me, sir?” she asked.

Maki winced, though she hadn't seen him do so because of the direction he was faced. She'd been like that all day. She wouldn't even say his name. There wasn't any coldness, roughness,…happiness, no emotion what so ever. Anger, Maki could deal with, but she'd cut him off from any kind of emotion whatsoever. Good and bad. It was evident she didn't hate him. If she did, she wouldn't have come. She would have disappeared. The fact that she was hear, despite her wall she built up before him, made him happy inside. Somewhere…deep inside. For the most part, he was just worried about the path she was on to hating him completely. Maki turned to her, no smile to meet her expressionless face. “That `sir' thing needs to stop.”

“What would you rather me call you?”

“Stop with the unfamiliar bull shit!”

“Well what the fuck do you expect me to say to you! We must not be so familiar because the Maki I knew wouldn't have done what you did to me.” All the while, taking off both rings of black and red jeweled beads and throwing them at his face. She got up to walk out the door.

“Don't walk away from me Kagura,” he said through gritted teeth. She ignored him. He swiftly walked around the table and just as she opened the door, he came behind and slammed it closed again, reaching down to lock it this time. “I really don't want to be angry with you.” Furious breaths heated the back of her neck.

“It's not about me now is it?” she asked, sliding her half leather jacket off. “It wasn't about me when you came looking for me. It wasn't about me when you invited me upstairs.” She turned to face him, a calm face to his angry one. “And it wasn't about me when you had sex with me now was it?” Maki didn't say anything, just stared at her. “Was it?” she asked, raising her tone a bit and pushing him away from her. Continuing to push him until she backed him into a desk. “It was always about you. What you wanted. What you haaad to have. So how about I make you happy, eh? She hopped up onto his desk and yanked him over so he stood in between her open legs. “Go ahead.”

“Kagura-“

“Kagura what? You could do it when I didn't want to. Why are hesitating now? I'll be just like every whore you had before and lay down for you.”

“Ka-“

“DO IT!” she shouted.

His breathing came heavier, more ragged. “Don't test my patience with you Kagura.”

She reached down and unzipped his pants for him. “I said do it!”

Naturally, you keep waving a cookie in a dogs face and no matter how trained, he'll jump for it.

(end)

“Kagura? I asked you a question.” Sasame interrupted her thought.

“One person, twice.”

Sasame winced a little just hearing it but knowing in the back of his mind that it could have been worse. She was a Saint after all and some do the most disgusting things to get in. For that, he sighed. “That…isn't bad…really.”

“Yeah, well,” she spoke with a hardened expression. “If it means anything, the first one shouldn't have to count.”

“What are you talking about? Something else you're just now telling me?”

“The guy raped me,” she blurt out, seeing it as easier to say when saying it fast. “The second time was my fault. I just stopped caring really.”

Sasame was surprised and, above all, hated himself for asking. “Kagura…I'm sorry.”

“For what?” she smirked. “It's not like you did it. Besides, you wanted to know right?”

This was true, but still, she was smiling through the pain again. Sasame walked up and embraced her. That's all that he really could do. Great. Now I feel like the jerk here. Kagura pulled away from him after a while, a little paranoid, thinking maybe one of his fan girls might see and start planning her untraceable murder with the others.

“I have to get to practice with the Archery team. Later.” He smiled at her.

“I'll walk with you. Or did you forget I walk home with you without a simple thank you each and every weekday,” he fake whined.

She smirked and pinched his arm hard. “Yeah well, thanks.”

“No problem-“

“Not…just for that.”

He smiled even wider. “It's still no problem.”

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Day after day passed by just as uneventful as the next until December was finally there. Though it hadn't snowed until the 5th. Sasame was rather surprised when a group of fan girls had all chipped in and organized a fund raiser behind his back to buy their prince a new car just like his last. Kyoko had started it but abandoned the project late November. Kagura was a little suspicious since that did happen to be the time she joined the Saints. But who's complaining. She did piss off a few people when coming out from Archery practice. Mawata had began coming over more frequently and it didn't exactly sit well with the red-head. Mawata and Kagura had been getting their things gathered while Sasame was outside being…surprised. Soon Kagura and Mawata came out as well. Mawata looked a little shocked at it once she had gotten passed the group of fan girls. Kagura just frowned as usual. In an impatient rush she yanked the bow off the front, much to the group's shock and got in. “Come on you two. We're not getting any younger.” Mawata, nor Sasame, could have said they didn't expect it from her, but it was still a bit risky making so many catty girls angry. Mawata may not have liked her, but she did admire the girl's confidence and the way she spoke her mind. However, she absolutely hated everything else about her. Including her interest in Sasame. Or was it her interest in Sasame that made her hate everything about her? But on December, fifth, Kagura had been in a rush to get home to evade Kyoko's bragging.

“If you think you're so damn tough then why didn't you show up hmm? Like I thought. You wouldn't join the Saints. You talk tough but you're just a little girl,” Kyoko smirked. Kagura just stared at her. The way she did it kind of creeped her out. “Why the hell are you staring at me like that?”

“No special reason. I just want to remember what you look like just incase they need someone to identify the body,” Kagura shrugged before returning to her work.

Kyoko was a little angry. “Yeah, well, all that teasing is going to stop.”

“Who said I was teasing. I'm serious. Oh, but when you do get killed, scratch the guy. I saw them catch a killer once by matching his DNA with the DNA found under the body's fingernails.”

“If I was such a weakling, then why'd they pick me to replace Knoctern, eh?”

Kagura froze but soon laughed it off to hide her surprise. “Why the hell would they do that?”

“Obviously because I was the best there. The head guy Maki chose me himself! Now that is a real man. Not like any of these high school boys.”

“You sleep with him?” Kagura asked.

Kyoko froze, her face slightly red. Kagura hadn't even skirted around the question. Just straight asked. “Th-That's none of your business!”

“What am I thinking? You did. No question about it. After all, this is you we're talking about.”

“What's that supposed to mean?”

“Well if you can't figure it out yourself then don't bother asking. So, they must have given you a nickname by now right? After all, Maki did choose you himself, didn't he?”

“Yes he did!”

“Then what is it?”

Kyoko muttered something under her breath and Kagura said for her to speak louder. “I said they didn't give it to me yet…”

So now Kagura was seated outside on her porch by herself, covered with a blanket, watching the snow fall. Not the most eventful thing she's ever done but she most definitely deserved the peace. Himeno was at the Ayanami's, Having a snowball fight with Hayate in their back yard. They would have done it in Sanma's backyard but there wasn't enough space to since the pool took up half the area. Kagura could hear the laughter coming from next door. There was Himeno's whining, then the boys laughing, and she even heard Ayanami and Sanma in on the game. She smiled to herself. This was certainly better than sitting inside the ADOC, watching it snow from inside, knowing you weren't aloud to go play in it. That was torture for a child when told you couldn't go out and play in the snow but the center just couldn't risk any children getting sick. Holidays there sucked too. But here, maybe they'd have fun. She watched fresh snowfall and remembered the news saying they'd get a good three inches of it. Pretty good for the first snow of the year. Winter was here and Kagura shivered. Winter was here and it was damn cold. “Don't even think about it or I won't touch you for a month.”

Sasame froze, snowball in hand. How'd she know I was here? Sasame laughed it off and put his hands in his pockets. Snowball too. “No need to go there,” he smiled.

She just smirked. “Tell Hayate to drop his too. And Himeno, I don't even know why you'd go along with it. You know better.”

Hayate came out from the side of the house surprised but Himeno just pouted. “I told you this wasn't going to work,” she complained. The sound of Ayanami calling after the three came closer. Probably looking to throw more snowballs at them. Himeno patted the snow off her hat, pink with floppy bunny ears hanging down to her shoulders. “Onee! It's no fair. Since you're not playing, Hayate and Sasame are on a team and Sanma and Ayanami are on a team and I'm by myself, and they jump me.”

“I can't keep saving you forever,” she frowned.

“C'mooooon. You know you want to. Play with us!”

Hayate threw his snowball at her anyway. It hit her arm and she immediately glared at him. He just smirked. “Oops. Too bad you're not going to do anything about it.” He pick up another chunk of snow and got ready to throw it at her again.

“Alright, I'm coming,” she sighed. Kagura went inside to grab her jacket, then put on her snow boots she left outside, by the door.

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Mawata pulled in front of the house and parked behind Sasame's new car. There was laughter coming from the backyard and Mawata instinctively knew who was there. She was a bit jealous of the girl. Kagura got to walk right next door and see Sasame any time she wanted. Mawata knocked on the door and Ayanami answered it. “Oh, dear. Hello. Come in. They're in the backyard having a little snow ball fight.” Ayanami and Sanma had decided to sit out for a while. Trying to keep up with those four would, as she so nicely put it, would send her to her deathbed. They sat at the breakfast table in the kitchen drinking hot chocolate instead. When Mawata got to the patio that let out into the backyard, it hardly looked like a little snowball fight. There were huge spaces of green where snow had been missing and two large snow forts. And when she said large, she meant large. They looked large enough to stand in with extra space and they each had flags hanging at the top. Not really flags, more one pink shirt flapping on a sturdy stick and the other black. They looked like vertically built Eskimo homes with the top cut off. The entrances were in the back and small so it was obvious you had to crawl in. And Mawata noticed the water hose connected to the house being routed into what she assumed was Kagura and Himeno's fort. A long mirror rose out of the Girls' fort and Kagura's voice came loud.

“TIME OUT!”

Hayate popped his head out of the opposite fort. “For what!” he asked, aggravated. He and Sasame must have been up to something and were obviously interrupted.

“Look idiot,” she said, pointing at Mawata. Mawata blushed a little with the sudden attention she'd gotten. Sasame and Himeno soon looked up to see what they were talking about.

“Hello Mawata!” Himeno smiled.

Mawata nodded and smiled. “Hey Mawata. Wanna play too?” Sasame offered.

“Now way. Join the girl's fort,” Hayate complained before remembering the fact that she and Kagura didn't get along for reasons obvious to everyone but Sasame.

“It's alright. I don't mind,” Kagura shrugged. She was Sasame's friend after all. Maybe Mawata liking him was just all in her head. Besides, she was wasting so much energy hating Mawata when she had worse thing on her mind. Mawata hesitated for a moment before walking over and crawling inside their fort. Ayanami and Sanma walked out onto the patio with their mugs. They had gone back outside and resumed keeping count of who got how many hits in the last twenty minutes left. Himeno had an absolutely cheerful grin that made the snow around her seem to glow incredibly white.

“Do you think they'll complain if we win. It is three against two now after all.”

“We should call Yayoi next time she comes over to even things out. And it's when we win rabbit.” Kagura used the mirror to look over the outside again. “I know they're doing something. It's quiet over there.”

Mawata marveled at how spacious the inside was. It looked smaller on the outside but Himeno was standing now and still didn't reach all the way to the top. There were snow made stairs made if you wanted to pop up over the edge like they had previously did. From close up you could tell they used the hose to make some of the snow ice so the fort stayed strong if a snowball hit it. The boys may have been aloud use of the hose to build their fort, but it was obvious the girls were hogging it now. How were they turning it on and off. There was a secret little tunnel she hadn't noticed before that traveled over to the side of the house, right beside the hose faucet. Yes, someone built this with very much thought. “You guys did this yourselves?” she finally asked.

“Yup! Kagi mapped it out and we built it ourselves. The boys didn't think it was fair that we were building a fort in their back yard without them having one so they made one too.”

“We built both with the rest of their family in mind. It's large enough for half their cousins to fit in here. At least we'll have something to do when they come down for the holiday,” Kagura said, still staring at the mirror. Just then, Kagura's expression changed. “Those bastards!” A snowball hit the glass and she yanked the mirror down to wipe it off.

“What is it?” Mawata asked.

“They were back there making sling shots. I should have thought of that.”

“Then why didn't you?” she asked again.

“I'm not exactly a boy-scout. How am I going to know how to make a weapon out of sticks instead of using the stick itself.”

“We can just make the same thing can't we?”

Himeno shook her head. “One of the rules are no copying. Believe me when I say, Kagura's tried.”

Mawata wanted to laugh at the hopeless look on her face. “It won't be copying if you make a bigger one, will it?”

Kagura paused for a moment. “No. It won't,” she said with a small smirk in Mawata's direction. So she isn't completely useless. Kagura then instructed them on what to do.

Sasame and Hayate laughed, then stuck a mirror over the edge to see what they were doing. “Too scared to do anything,” Hayate laughed again. Just then, Hayate thought he saw a pair of bunny ears pop out on the side of the house but ignored it. She'd have to use their exit to get out and they'd pummel her with snowballs even faster than before with their new just made slingshots. Then he saw Kagura and Mawata pop out on opposite sides of the fort and drive sturdy sticks into opposite sides of the fort. But they did it to quickly for Sasame to get a shot at them.

“What do you think they're up to?”

“Dunno. And I don't like waiting to find out.”

“Well what do you suppose we do then genius?”

Hayate sat there, aggravated. “I said I didn't like waiting. I didn't say we weren't going to have to though.”

Sasame sighed. “Great.” That's when Sasame noticed a bright pink Himeno pop back into the fort through some other entrance carrying something. And not too long after, she popped back out. “And what does she think she's doing?” Kagura stuck another two sticks into the top wall of the fort before popping back in. Mawata popped out and hooked something to the two sticks they stuck in earlier and ducked out of sight again. Kagura popped out and hooked what looked like a net to the two sticks she set out later. “They're going to fast. I can't get an aim on one of them,” Sasame complained. They were popping in and out of that fort liking that arcade game Whack-A-Mole. The one where the little animals pop up out of the holes and you half to bonk as many as you can on the head before they go back in. Sasame was never good at that game and it only made him angry. Himeno finished doing as she was told. This was going to be funny. She rolled a giant snowball in the front yard and rolled it back to the net behind the fort. It really wasn't a net. Just a yarn sheet that looked like one. Himeno tied it inside the sheet and Kagura and Mawata eased it into the fort. Himeno had done this two times, making the boys fairly nervous, and re-entered the fort.

“We're going to give you one chance to give up!” Mawata shouted.

Sasame sat back inside and he and his brother exchanged glances before laughing. Intimidated? By Mawata? “Be for real!” they laughed. “You can't expect us to take you of all people seriously!”

Mawata frowned. “They aren't listening.”

“I knew they wouldn't. That's why I told you to say it. They don't take the warning seriously, then we get to bomb them with out feeling bad about it,” she grinned.

“Must you be so mischievous?” she asked with a frown but Kagura could tell in her tone she wasn't put off by the idea.

“Life's always funner that way. Right Hime?”

Himeno was already loading the catapult. “Uh-huh. Can I shoot it now?”

Kagura and Mawata moved out of the way, behind Himeno. “Go ahead.” Himeno giggled before letting the rope loose. Ayanami and Sanma had been chatting it up when Sanma froze, seeing the giant ball of snow flying through the air and into the other fort. Her eyes went wide like saucers.

“What's wrong?” Ayanami asked, trying to see what she was staring at.

“A-A-A B-Bi-B-BIG SNOWB-BALL JUST FLEW TH-THROUGH THE A-AIR!”

Ayanami looked again. She heard the boys making a big fuss but nothing out of the ordinary. "My friend. You're obviously seeing things. I mean, the forts themselves are impressive but how in the word would they get a giant snowball into the air---"

"FIRE TWO!" Another large snowball flew out of the girl's fort and landed into the other.

"Oh dear god..."

(before)

Sasame and Hayate laughed some more before the light was suddenly blocked out. Both looked up and immediately regretted it. A massive ball full of snow came crashing down on them, breaking over there heads and filling a little below half of the fort. "Dammitt!" Hayate shouted, wiping the snow from his hair. Sasame just laughed.

"It's going to be hard to out do that. Besides, after a hit like that, what's the worst that could happen?"

"FIRE TWO!"

Hayate frowned at Sasame. "You had to ask!" They both scrambled to get out but got hit anyway. Now a little less than the entire fort was full of snow.

Himeno laughed. "It's going to take them forever to shovel that out!"

Mawata couldn't help but giggled as well. They crawled out of the fort, wet, frowning, and covered in snow. “I think it's obvious who won. You boys get inside and change out of those wet clothes before you catch a cold.

“Can I come?” Kagura muttered so only the two heard. Sasame froze in place for a moment, turning bright red before walking inside with a grin. Mawata ceased her laughing and gave Kagura a slight empty, slight glaring look. Kagura noticed.

So she does like him. And to think, she was growing on me. Kagura now frowned back. Himeno hadn't been paying attention, still had a dopey look on her face.

“You girls come in and have some hot cocoa.” Ayanami and Sanma walked inside. They shook the snow from themselves, took off their boots, and walked inside. They were sitting in the kitchen at the breakfast table, silent for the most part. Ayanami would strike up random conversation, occasionally catching frowns exchanged between Mawata and Kagura. That was, until Kagura stood. “Kagura?”

“Yeah, well, this was nice and all-“ She yawned and stretched her arms out above her head, “But I'm going to get going. It's getting late and there's someone I gotta go visit before the day ends.”

Himeno perked up quick. “Can I come? Where ya going?”

“No and none of your business.” Himeno followed Kagura while she walked to the backyard to get her boots.

“C'moooooon, Onee-chaaaan! I'll keep quiet. You won't even know I'm there.”

“Then why should you come.” Himeno looked up at her with large puppy dog eyes. Kagura flinched a little. She really didn't enjoy being a bitch to her sister and definitely didn't like telling her no when it came to trips. Especially when she looked like that. But Himeno couldn't come with her where she was going. She plastered on a stern face. “No Hime.” She pot on her boots and walked around the house. Himeno went into the kitchen and looked out the window in front of the house, watching Kagura disappear up the sidewalk. There was visible frown on her face and Sanma looked concerned.

“A-Are you alright? Is K-Kagura going somewhere she sh-shouldn't?” she asked. She was reminded when adopting the girls of what a problem child the red-head herself was. Though, she was angry they left out the fact that she needed a shot every month, they did tell her of the girl's past drinking, sneaking out, drug abuse, violence, and plain disrespect for authority. Sanma looked worried but at the same time didn't want to reprimand the girl. She hadn't been displaying any of those actions while here and everyone deserved a second chance right? She wasn't the nicest but she was a good girl…for the most part anyway.

Himeno finally turned around with a smile to answer Sanma's questions. “Nah! Kagura's fine. I'm just mad that she didn't take me along. I haven't been anywhere in a while.”

Mawata stared at Himeno for a while before shrugging it off. Well at least that woman left. She always leaves me and Sasame alone like she isn't threatened by me at all. Who does she think she is? Mawata frowned but quickly covered it up with a small smile when Sasame walked in, soon followed by Hayate. She'd never seen him dressed so casually before. Her cheeks stained with a little pink but he didn't notice. Instead he asked a question that made her stomach into a large, aggravated, knot.

“Where'd Kagura disappear off to?”

Ayanami smiled to herself. The first thing out of his mouth being Kagura. It, strange if you didn't understand, brought a smile to her face. Instead of being weary of the girl and her mention by her son, it made her happy and she pushed for them to be together more often. This is where it is all to come together. Just as the book said. But the sister has a boyfriend. No matter. That relationship will destroy itself and none other than my dashing son Hayate will be there to sweep her off her feet. It's all too perfect. I must call my sisters. She made a mental note of that. “She left, dear. Something about having to see someone.”

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Maki awoke to an annoying sound ringing in his ears. She groaned and pulled a pillow over his head. What the hell is that god awful beeping! Someone turn that damned alarm clock off. Maki felt a warm body lying beside him and looked over at it. His heart immediately sank, staring at Kyoko sleeping in bed with him.I shouldn't have let her sleep here…wonder how she's getting home…great, I have to be the nice guy and take her home if I want her to trust me enough to use her. And I can't believe she's sleeping like a rock through all of this noise! ………Wait…when the hell did I get an alarm clock. Hell, even if I had one I wouldn't have it going off now. Maki stared at the small machine. Someone was in his house. Probably didn't want to kill him or whoever it was would have done it while he was sleeping. Then he saw something. His door was only cracked open so wide but he still saw her. You can't mistake hair like that, as red as that, Kagura was here. He jumped out of bed and threw on some sweat pants before rushing out after her. She wasn't in the hallway anymore. He hurried downstairs and was immediately greeted by Kagura sitting at the table with a gun, his gun, pointed at him. Maki stared at her where he stood for a long time. His face spoke proud and stern but on the inside, his mind was a haze of jumbled emotions. One being anger at seeing her pointing that gun at him, and the at hate for himself, knowing she saw a naked Kyoko lying in bed beside him. Her frown soon turned to a smirk, amused he'd kept a straight face about seeing her.

“You don't have to stand over there. This is your house after all. Sit down.” He complied, knowing she wouldn't hesitate to shoot him if he hadn't. “I would ask you how you've been but I already guessed pretty good when I saw Kyoko in your bed. Hope you don't catch anything. But then again, it's her I should feel sorry for right?”

“You came all this way to degrade me?” he asked, tone of ice but the look in his eyes betrayed his exterior.

“Cut the tough act. You know you're happy to see me,” she smiled.

He hated how well she saw right through him. “And what if I am? It doesn't change the fact that you have a gun pointed at me.”

“No, I guess not. Besides, I didn't come here to make you happy. It's regarding the last couple of bastards you sent to follow me-“

“On you date with so little boy you met recently. Yes.”

“Green really isn't your color.”

“I'm not jealous. Pissed for my own reasons but not jealous. He's a child. Why should I be jealous? I can have any woman I want.”

“But he just happens to have the one you want the most, eh?”

Well she wasn't lying there. Not that he'd admit it. He softened his tone. “Kagi-“

“About those two men,” she interrupted. “I don't like having to deal with your hired tailors during my free time. I don't appreciate being followed, and above all else, if anyone should do it, shouldn't it be you. That is, assuming you care so much.”

“Don't take that attitude with me.”

Kagura was a little surprised he'd even think of speaking to her like he used to. “Well how's this for an attitude. You're a fucking whore. If I ever find anyone else following me, I'll kill them. I didn't come here to kill you. I could care less what you do-“

“Now who's lying?”

She shot at him, purposely aiming off so it only grazed his arm, but it hurt him none the less. He grunted loudly and stared daggers at her, though in the back of his mind, knowing it could have been worse. “I thought you'd know better than to talk to someone with a gun pointed at you. But then again, you were always arrogant.”

“I don't remember you complaining before.”

“Yeah, well, I like you before. So who's fault is it really that I'm pointing a gun at you now. You seem happy with my…replacement…so leave me alone. Or next time I'll actually shoot you.”

Kagura got up to leave, the gun still pointed at him. He smiled at her attempt to intimidate him. He was only impressed. She found out where he lived and snuck in without a problem. He liked her more if it was possible. And as she stood, he couldn't help but notice how much she'd grown. And to think, he went crazy because she refused him then. He'd hate to think of his reaction if she had refused him while looking like that. He knew Kagura noticed the stare. Her frown grew because of it. She was even going to shoot at him again if it weren't for the call coming from upstairs. Kyoko was awake. “You know,” he began. “She isn't a replacement, more like a snack before I get to what I really want. Besides, there are worse things than dying. And you leaving is one of them.”

“Then get used to it,” she hissed before leaving out the back door. He smiled widely and Kyoko wandered into the kitchen, wearing his shirt. He looked back at her but all he could see was his rose. It was she instead of Kyoko, standing there in his clothes. So he walked over and tore them off.

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Himeno noticed Hayate walking outside in the snow again. He hadn't even bothered tying his hair up like her usually did. It was in a rouge mess at his sides. “What're you doing?” she asked, trying to get her mind off of her missing sister. Hayate looked back at her before grabbing a shovel leaning against the side of the house.

“I'm about to shovel that fort out before the snow freezes inside. I didn't spend all day building it so you three could ruin it in two minutes.”

Himeno felt slightly guilty at the coincidence. She did say it would take them forever to shovel it out. I'll help then. I got nothing better to do. She shoved her boots back on and put on her gloves that had been crushed in her pocket.

Hayate didn't notice her again until she grabbed the other shovel. “What are you doing?”

“Helping. I did help make the mess, didn't I,” she smiled.

He looked from her to the fort but she could see the back of his ears were pink. She quickly dismissed the fact that he could have been blushing and blamed the cold. It was hard to start and impossible looking at first. They had started shoveling from the outside but soon were able to fit inside when the snow reached knee high. But it was hard to move around. “I'm amazed we even got this far down.”

“It's only because you had me to help,” Himeno smiled.

Hayate snorted. “Don't get full of yourself tulip-head.” But that's when he quickly realized he shouldn't have said it. He was up to his knees in snow, stuck in a fort with a woman who became violent every time he teased her.

“I told you not to call me that!” she shouted, making a moved to strangle him but she couldn't move around too much either. He was relieved but soon became frightened when he saw how quickly she used the shovel to move the snow away from her legs. Himeno's grin stretched wider with each step she took toward him. “Now you're going to get it, baka!” She hurled herself at him and he stuck his arms out to stop her tiny fists just inches away from his face. “Let go!” she said, muffled because his hands on her face partially covered her mouth. He grinned.

“I think I like you better like this instead tulip-head,” he teased. She swung at him crazily now and pounded on his arms. Both gave way and she fell forward, falling on his face. It was lip to lip contact. More like lip to chin. Himeno went red from embarrassment and pulled away a little. She could stop looking at him. Was he mad? He kept staring at her…with those eyes…those deep blue eyes…like staring up into the deepest sky. He lowered his head breaking eyes contact to stare at her mouth. He had a sudden hate for Tetsu. More than he had before. For snatching his tulip-head to hog for himself. But he also envied him. Why couldn't the two switch places? Why? Because people would hate him and the way he treated girls as much as they hate Tetsu now. But still, it wasn't fair. Himeno just stood frozen, red from ear to ear. His mouth came closer but kept stopping and it was aggravating her. Was he going to or wasn't he? She knew she shouldn't have been thinking such a thing, she had a boyfriend. Though the thought occurred to her how she'd just rushed into it without really knowing Tetsu. She'd only made occassional conversation with him before because they both happened to be on the kendo team. When she heard Hayate sighed and pull back, her heart dropped. “Himeno…” he began. He didn't really know how to say it. If he even wanted to say it. How would he sound? You don't really know Tetsu. You haven't been around that long. Dump your jerk of a boyfriend and pay attention to me the way you do him. Pff! Yeah right. Like he'd out and say that. How would she look at him then? Selfish… “I-“

He was cut off by Himeno's mouth crashing against his. His eyes went wide and his thoughts jumbled. She was kissing him. Not the other way around. He'd pinch himself later.

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Sasame was having another one of those dreams again. No, not like when he'd been peeping into Kagura's window. He's been trying his best not to, but it's become harder ever since he and Kagura had gotten onto…friendlier terms. No, it was one of those field dreams again. The expectant haze in vision, like he was seeing the world through a white blanket was there as expected, and as he's become used to, Kagura was there to. It wasn't really like the Kagura he'd gotten to know. Kagura on the outside was…well…there was no putting into words how she was. A mix of good and bad and being bad because it was good and the good being good yet bad at times. Did that make any sense at all. It didn't sound so right to him either. However, the Kagura here was nice almost all the time. Still taunting in her own way and had that same smirk. Though she always looked sad before Sasame called out to her. It was like these dreams of his, had a mind of their own. Like they had their own memory of what was real and what wasn't, what he did out there and what he did here. Was this normal? “Kagura?” She was seated by herself in that pretear gown of hers. It itched him in the back of his mind. Kagura on the outside would never where that willingly. She turned around and her solemn expression switched to a wide smile. He approached her, looking down with an awkward smile on his face. She patted the space beside her, signaling for him to sit down. He did and she laid her head in his lap. He was used to it by now. Not just here, Kagura did it a lot too. Most of the time, just trying to get a reaction out of him.

“Sasame…”

He shook previous thoughts from his head and looked down at her. “What is it?”

“I can't keep staying here for too much longer.”

Sasame looked down at her oddly. You see what he meant? It was like his dream had a mind of it's own. Does it really have a choice in whether it stays or goes? This is his mind after all. “And why not?” Her face turned red and she sat up. “Kagura?” he asked in a firmer tone. “What's wrong?”

“As long as you stay with me, I can't stay here anymore. I have to go back.”

“By back…you mean?”

“Kagura silly. You read the story right? At the end, the princess kills herself, and leaves a piece of herself with her knight. She wanted him to have happy memories left. So she left her happy here, in this field, where she last saw him, in his mind and heart. That's you only in a previous life. And that's Kagura, only in a previous life. Since you have her happy, you make her happy when she's with you. And I'm going to end up having to go back to Kagura the more she stays here with you.”

“She's been happy. What about when she's with Himeno?”

“She tries to copy Himeno's happy so Himeno feels better. She just doesn't know she's doing it. Just like with other people. She's only just as happy as the person she's with but she needs her own happy. You have to become one with her like in the story before for me to go back.”

Sasame sat there thinking about it for a while. What did he eat before he went to sleep? He had to remember not to do it again. This was a dream. So how'd he think this crap up? I mean sure, he read the story. Everyone in the family had. But that last part he'd never heard before. And you have to have heard something for it to end up in your dreams. “In the story, they preted to become one. I don't exactly have magical powers so how do you expect me to do that?”

Her face burned more. “They didn't mean pretting exactly, when they said it.”

Sasame's eyes widened only momentarily. He had an idea of what she meant but he needed to hear her say it. “And what did they mean?”

She looked a little flustered that he asked. “They meant-“

“Sasame! For the last time, get up!” his mother shouted. He sprung up from the couch. “So you actually listen when I tell you to get up this time?” she said with a frown.

He dragged a tired hand over his face, trying to wipe away dream vision to see his mother frowning at him. “Hmm? What time is it?”

“It's ten to nine. Listen, I'm taking Hayate to the emergency room. He has a high fever and I think all that time outside is what gave him a cold. So I'll be out for about an hour okay. You should go up and go to sleep since I doubt you'll be awake by the time we get back.” Sasame soon snapped to reality when he saw Hayate dragging himself groggily to the front door. The blonde got up and walked the two out the front door. Just before they pulled out of the garage, Ayanami saw Kagura walking down the sidewalk. “Are you just getting home?” she asked in a disapproving tone. Sasame stared at her from the doorway.

“From what I understood, my curfew wasn't until eleven. My friend's house is pretty far away on foot.”

“Why didn't you just take the bus, or better yet, ask my son to take you?” she asked with a incredulous look.

“Buses are too crowded where I went and I doubt my friend would like it if I brought a guest. Doesn't take kindly to strangers.”

Ayanami sighed and drove off while muttering something about children these days having an excuse for one crazy thing after another. That's when Kagura noticed Sasame in the doorway. “They didn't mean pretting exactly, when they said that.” His cheeks burned when he saw her. She stared back at him, probably wondering what was wrong with him. “You wanna come in?” he finally piped out. “You can call Sanma from here. So she doesn't worry so much.”

She stared at him a while longer before shrugging. “Sure.”