'Piece by piece'

Hotaru was walking slowly towards the camp-field. Sure, she wasn't feeling too bad, but if someone would have asked her to describe her state, the word 'fine' wasn't the one that first came to mind.

She was dragging her feet, cautiously placing one foot in front of another one on the firm ground. From time to time she would stop for a moment trying to catch her breath and not to think about the pain that ran through her body seemingly mixed with her blood. She put her hood over her head and stretched her blouse's sleeves to cover as much skin as possible. She was sure that the moment her fellow teammates see the reddish bruises - now slowly changing to deep purple - they won't let her be. She will have to tell them everything. Damn, she could swear that she heard Mastuoka-san's voice screaming her name with thousands exclamation marks at the end. In her mind she could see Yukimiura-san's eyes scrutinizing her face, looking straight at her soul. No, Hotaru wasn't ready for this. Luckily the sun was setting already and in the dim light there was a chance that they won't notice anything.

She took another deep breath and decided that no matter what she will persevere. Hotaru walked through the gate and went straight to her room. Of course, she couldn't be that lucky as to actually get to the room itself. That's because in front of it her teammates were sitting next to a wooden table.

- Hotaru-chan!

- Tachibana-kun!

Their voices mixed one with another, causing a small ache somewhere in her heart. They sounded like they were happy to see her, happy that she came back from school. They were waiting for her sipping cold beer (for her there was some juice) eager to hear how her day was. Her day was bloody awful but she couldn't bring herself to say that. Instead she changed the subject and directed the conversation towards their jobs.

And all signs in heaven suggested that she would have gotten away with this if it weren't for the third voice which jumped into discussion.

- You're a bit pale, are you perhaps in pain, Ta-chi-ba-na-kun? - dark grey eyes were staring right at her with a trace of amusement poorly hidden behind concern. Midori-san was smiling at her, beaming with pride that once again he had discovered her secret. Hotaru closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She could feel the anger building up in her, welling up like water ready to fell down with a brute force every second now.

The silence that fell after that innocent question was unbearable. You could feel the tension filling up the air and building upon the silence.

Matsuoka-san froze on the spot while Yukimura-san instinctively moved in front of Tachibana shielding her with his body.

- And what are you doing here, Midori? Why would you be here in front of Tachibana-kun's room? - dark eyes glared dangerously from behind his glasses. Midori ignored him completely and instead kept looking at Hotaru.

- Tachibana-kun, I wasn't joking when I told you that I'd like you to depend on me more. The offer still stands so if you are ever in need of a shoulder to cry on...

- If she ever needs a shoulder to cry on she will be able to use Mattsun's -Yukimura-san hissed like a snake. For a second there Hotaru thought that she will burst with laughter at her friend's remark but then she felt really tired. She put her hand on Yukimura-san's shoulder and stepped in front of him.

- Actually, Midori-san, if you don't mind Tachibana could use your expertise as a physician - she said with a voice devoid of any emotion. Both her teammates looked at her astonished.

-It's OK, I don't think that Midori-san is going to eat me or something... And Tachibana really feels a bit... peculiar - she said not looking at them. Midori smirked and gestured at her room:

- Shall we? - she simply nodded and they both went inside her room, leaving the two other men behind them.


The room was dark and felt empty. On the bed was laying her bag with survival games equipment. There was also a small table next to the only window - a simple chair stood by it. Hotaru took off her shoes and switched on the lights. The room filled with warm light instantly. Then the girl cautiously took off her hoodie allowing herself only for a small grimace, but that didn't escape Midori-san's attention. He squinted slightly when he saw the bruises covering her hands - now clearly visible because she was wearing a black T-shirt - and with it the contrast between her pale skin and purple lacerations was somehow too great.

- Who did this to you, Tachibana-kun? - he asked and this time the concern wasn't faked. She shrugged off his question, dismissing it with a poor excuse:

-It was a skirmish, nothing of importance to you, Midori-san...

He stared at her for a couple of seconds which felt like eternity.

- Fine enough, I won't ask again but in return you will allow me to do a full body-check. Do you agree, Tachibana-kun? - there was a strange note in his voice and he looked serious, strict in a way.

- That's fine, Tachibana really appreciates your help with this, Midori-san - He nodded slightly once again amazed at how well-behaved she was.

- Then please undress yourself to your underwear, Hotaru-chan.

She must have looked terrified because he smiled at her and added:

- You know that I'm a doctor... I won't do anything to you, you can rest assured.

-You're a PEDIATRICIAN, Midori-san... But that's not it. I mean, you just called Tachibana by her first name... That's a bit strange...

-Strange?

- Yes, very strange... Tachibana always thought that you were nice to her just because you wanted to create a ruckus and stir things up between Tachibana, Matsuoka and Yukimura-san.

- Well, there's some truth in that but it's not that simple, Hotaru-chan. And now, please remove your clothes.

The girl nodded slightly, apparently giving up on questioning him further and pulled up her T-shirt. Once again a grimace of pain could be seen on her face, the spring-green eyes were filled with it. Midori-san let go a small sigh when he saw her back covered with bruises but he tighten his fists when he noticed what looked like a knife wound on her right side just below ribs. Suddenly rage filled his heart but he somehow managed the urge to interrogate the blond girl any further. He took a deep breath and simply watched her as she removed her trousers. Her thin long legs were covered with bruises, lacerations and small wounds, her rib-cage and slim waist looked as if she took quite a beating and that made him feel uneasy. He of all people knew well how powerful she was. What was this all about? Who could have done something like this to the only girl, damn it, only human being that stood any chance against him in a fight? Ever since the last TGC he couldn't stop himself from reminiscing about their duel. He reckoned that if it wasn't for Massamune and Yukimura's incompetence the girl could have had him... Only the fact that Ichi wasn't shot and was still in the game allowed him to feel confident enough, but had the two of them finished her off, Midori might had been in a big trouble. Hotaru-chan never failed to amazed him: at TGC, at the onsen when she kissed him on the lips (there were nights when he still could almost feel her lips pressed against his own) or today when she simply agreed to let him help her. When the two of them were alone he felt like they were a good match for each other. Most TGC players were afraid of him (and rightly so), but Hotaru-chan wasn't. On the contrary, she behaved and fought like she believed that with more practice and experience she could win over him... And with her and her alone, he really felt like this might happen one day.

Midori-san thought about himself that when it counted he was always able to remain patience no matter what. And this time it wouldn't be different. He just had to fix her up and in time she would surely tell him what exactly had happened. That's why, even though it took all he had he didn't ask again, but simply run his fingers through her bruised body.

- Where do you keep your first aid-kit, Hotaru-chan? We need to patch you up and maybe put on some cold compress, unless you don't mind becoming a delicious plum...

- Midori-san, sure as hell I was the one who took the beating but the way you speak to me today... Honestly, it seems like you have a fever or something. I mean 'a delicious plum', what did you mean by that? - her eyes were filled with bewilderment to the point she broke the habit of referring to herself from third-person perspective, and Midori just couldn't help but to chuckle.

- Don't mind me, Hotaru-chan. Just tell me where the first-kit is.

- The upper drawer, on the left in the kitchen, but I will bring it to you - she turned around and tried to pass him but he grabbed her shoulder and delicately pushed her on the bed.

- That's all right, I got this - he smiled and ventured into her kitchen to find what he needed.

It didn't take long and when he got back, Hotaru was looking at him from the bed. The pain in her eyes was visible, yet she still smiled at him with that big bright smile of hers. Honestly, he's never seen such a beautiful smile before and he was sure that he won't be seeing anything better in the future. He walked to her slowly and started with the job at hand. Carefully as to not cause more pain, he cleaned up the superficial wounds and lacerations, put some antiseptic and dressed the wounds. It took a while to clean the knife cut, but all in all he was pleased with the end result. During this whole time Hotaru just sat on the bed in a perfect silence.

- It's done but we will need to keep an eye on those wounds of yours to see if they heal properly - he whispered to her ear while leaning towards her. She blushed slightly, clearly a bit uncomfortable with him being so close.

- Thank you, Midori-san. I guess I owe you one, but mind that I won't hold back at the battlefield.

- That goes without saying, Hotaru-chan.

They looked at each other and chuckled. Then the girl stood up, covered the distance to a wardrobe in no time and grabbed some fresh clothes.

- I guess that I should get going - said Midori-san with his usual lopsided smile.

- I will walk you to the door, I still need to talk to Matsuoka and Yukimura-san.


Matsuoka-san was staring at Hotaru's door trying to process what exactly had happened. Just now, the high-schooler went inside with their sworn enemy, hell, she even asked him for help. And what was that he said to her again? That he'd like that she depended on him more? What the... For some reason he felt cold shiver running down his spine... For sure he wouldn't, would he? What was Midori planning? Was he trying to take Hotaru away? Steal her away from them? Matsuoka clenched his fists and started to walk towards kid's room but he was interrupted by Yukki's voice:

-Surely we can trust Tachibana-kun's judgement on this one, can't we?

- Well, ehh... Yes but she's alone with him behind the closed door and...

- And? Don't you think you sound a bit like a jealous boyfriend, Mattsun? I know that you feel like you need to keep her close, cause she may be stolen away but up until now Tachibana-kun always stood by our side no matter what. Surely you don't believe that she would let go of your hand, do you?

They stared at each other for a while before the blond answered:

- You know that I didn't mean anything like that... I just, well, I guess I'm worried that he will hurt her or something... She's though but still she's just an innocent kid who knows nothing about the likes of him and I, for what it's worth, I don't want to ever see her cry because of such a lowlife like him.

Yukimura-san opened his mouth to say something but he was interrupted before he had the chance to finish.

- Matsuoka-san, Yukimura-san, Tachibana is sorry for worrying you, but it's OK now. Look Tachibana is perfectly fine - she spun around, smiling brightly but something seemed off. Yukimura-san noticed it immediately, her movements weren't so light as always. Normally, he always got the feeling that she wasn't walking and rather floating two inches above the ground, but that wasn't the vibe he was getting now. He closed the distance between them in three long steps and started to examine her face closely. From this perspective he could clearly see how tired she was. Her eyes usually filled with the inner light were somehow dimmed. Then his gaze landed on her collarbone where he saw a small laceration. Yukimura-san was always good with hiding his feelings but not when it came to people he cared for.

- What's this? - he said in a low voice poking her skin with his long slim finger. For a second there she looked as if she wanted to run away but then she relaxed her shoulders and replied calmly:

- Nothing really, just some bruises but Midori-san was kind enough to patch me up so I'm good now.

- Bruises? How did you get them?

- It's a long and rather boring story – strained smile graced her lips – Really, nothing for you to worry about. Tachibana tried to take a shortcut on my way to school, but Tachibana is not as good on the bike as Tachibana thought she was – she looked a bit embarrassed playing with a louse strand of hair – I fell off the bike and got a bit battered, that's all – another strained smile which didn't reach her eyes.

- And where's your bike now? - Yukimura asked in a low voice.

- I left it at my friend's house so that he can fix it for me. He's good with such stuff... But really, no need to worry now, Tachibana is all good and actually a bit hungry. Should we grab something to bite?

If Yukimura didn't believe her, it was to his credit that he didn't let it show even a bit. Instead he ruffled her hair before he put his arm around her shoulder and turned to face two other guys.

- Mattsun, you heard? Should we go to the restaurant by the front gate? - Matusoka's eyes lit up, but his forehead was still creased with worry.

- Sure thing. Come on.

The blonde man grabbed teen's hand and so the the three of them walked side by side into the front gate's direction, followed by a cautious gaze of dark grey eyes.