This is the fourth story and first completed oneshot of The Seira Generation.

Title: Protect Me
Rating: T
Genre: Angst/Friendship
Summary: His eyes landed on her wrists, where blood dripped off in amazing quantity. Her gaze sought his, and he was startled at the tears in them. "Please..." She whispered.
Song: The Last Night
Artist: Skillet

Nathaniel Castello groaned loudly at the insistent knocking on his front door. He stood stiffly and ran his hand through his unruly red hair as he strode towards the door. Unlocking the chain and doorknob, he swung open the oak door to gaze blearily at the person who though it was smart to wake someone at an ungodly hour.

He certainly wasnt expecting his enemies' daughter to be perched on his porch steps, soaked through from the onslaught of pouring rain.

Nathaniel blinked owlishly at the girl in front of him. His eyes landed on her wrists, where blood dripped off in amazing quantity. Her gaze sought his, and he was startled at the tears in them. "Please..." She whispered.

The redhead wasted no time. Wrapping an arm around the frail teenager's waist, he was minutely shocked to find how thin and light she was. Has she even been eating? He took in the blood on her clothes and the distant look in her eyes. What the hell happened?

Seira pulled feebly out of his grasp, a deep breath making her shoulders tremble violently. "I... I came to say goodbye." She whispered hoarsely, voice cracking from apparent misuse. He stared at her, mind still hazy from sleep and uncomprehending her words.

"What?"

The word spilled from his lips, summing up the emotion he felt. He was shocked at her presence in general, which came at a higher degree when she suddenly burst into tears, harsh sobs wracking her body.

"They dont understand me, Nathaniel! D-Dad says I have to do it, for AOKI, but I just cant! I-It's not right, it's not even legal... I th-ink..." She hiccuped quietly, jilting her words. "They think I'm j-just brooding and all, l-locked up in my room for h-hours on end, but I'm not! They p-pester me all day, asking about my l-love life and who my friends are, and I'm s-sick of it! They dont even know I've been c-cutting, and it hurts so bad, but it t-takes the pain away! I was so h-happy with you all, but Dad and K-Karu wont leave me be!

"I just want it to end, Nathaniel..." She whispered, collapsing to her knees. The demon took immediate subconscious action and knelt before the sniffling girl, cradling her head to his chest and rocking her softly. He never expected that he would take to comforting his own enemy, but she was hurting. And she would never let him see her cry. Never.

Incoherent babbles left the distraught teenager's lips as she clenched her hands into Nathaniel's shirt, holding on tightly like a lifeline. "Please dont even leave me alone, Nathan... Please..." The raven-haired girl whispered, the plea muffled against his clothing.

The wolf demon held Seira tighter, in a protective grasp. "I wont." he found himself saying, shocking himself but not letting it show. "I swear it."

She smiled up at him weakly, true relief flashing back at him in her eyes. "You mean it?" She asked quietly. When she received a firm nod, she gasped and wrapped her arms around his neck as tight as she could, choking him slightly. He didnt reprimand her, only held her closer.

"Thank you so much." She whispered against his earlobe. "Odd coming from your enemy, but it's sincere nonetheless." She murmured. He chuckled and smirked casually.

"No problem."

Done!

Sorry it's so short! I didnt really have much to go with this oneshot, but I hope you guys liked it!

Please review! Bunnies are nice, but fire makes me look prettier!

NekoShadowDancer