I know this is soooo late and it should've been here at the beginning of the month. I won't give any excuses other than my ADD when it comes to other things. I'll just ask for forgiveness! (bows deeply in apology) Also, this chapter was supposed to be up yesterday (Friday) but I had no internet access at my dad's home in the middle of fucking nowhere, USA. Everything was completed and edited for any possible typos (though they're still probably some in there), but I didn't have any fucking internet! (RAGES)

Okay, I'm done.

Thanks to everyone who read The Duties of a High School Guitarist! I'm still getting some favs/follows of that story and I'm very excited to finally have this up! This chapter takes place right after the Epilogue in TDoaHSG, but I gave a brief summary so y'all don't have to re-read the Epilogue if y'all don't want to. I know y'all've been waitin' for a long time for this and I'm happy to finally present it to the public! I will update every Friday like I used to and if for whatever reason, Saturday will be the safety net if something happens on update day.

Here it is! Enjoy the chapter!

~Delyth

The Realities of a High School Celebrity

Chapter One

"Panic causes tunnel vision. Calm acceptance of danger allows us to more easily assess the situation and see the options."—Simon Sinek

A piercing silence echoed around Asahina Miwa-san's guest room in the beautiful and quite large Sunrise Residence where her twelve sons lived. Of course, now Ema-chan was a part of the family after her father married the brothers' mother so she also lived here with her overprotective squirrel, Juli. Two days have passed since the wedding reception and Mari fiddled nervously with her hands as she waited for the Asahinas, Rintarou-san, and Ema-chan to speak. She had just finished explaining how Nishiomi Isao was connected to the platinum blonde and why he had created such a terrifying reaction from her within a few minutes. There was very little time to prepare herself for such an invasion to her past, but they needed to know about it in order to help.

Thankfully, Ukyo-san kept Ami and Wataru occupied in the kitchen by teaching them how to make cupcakes from scratch. The last thing Mari wanted was for her baby sister to be exposed to such a horrid story. She had made sure that the little eleven-year-old didn't see any sort of violent situation; she wanted Ami to grow up in a peaceful environment and continue to see the world as a wonderful place. Her innocence and naivety toward reality would remain intact as long as possible if she could help it. Mari closed her eyes, the twin sapphires very dim from exhaustion and stress, and she wondered if they would ever look at her in the same away again. It was a concern well thought of for those who were raped, she knew, but surely that feeling would've vanished by now. Right?

A hand squeezed her fingers supportively, the thumb brushing small patterns along her knuckles, and she stiffened. Fuuto's mouth twitched in a tiny smirk at her forgetfulness, but the planes of his face quickly molded into a blank mask. His was nowhere near as good as his older brother Natsume was in keeping an indifferent expression, but she could always tell what was on the idol's mind even when he had the slyest of smirks on his lips. Right now, for example, he was trying not to show how unnerved he was by his family's long contemplation. The pop star also didn't want them to think that he was disgusted by his new girlfriend's regrettable past, and while she was thankful for that, she worried that it may cause a rift between him and his brothers of that were the case. After all, there were some people who had strict moral codes.

On the opposite side of her, Kyo sat on the edge of the bed with her arm wrapped around her Onee-chan's shoulder. Her black hair meshed with pale blonde as the younger sibling rested her head against Mari's. She didn't seem worried about what the rest of the Asahinas thought and that soothed a little of Mari's anxiety. Beside his girlfriend with equal parts sympathy and surprise, Niwa-sempai watched the shocked faces of those around him out the corner of his eye though most of his attention was on the blonde teenager. While she knew that Kyo told her boyfriend very personal stuff concerning their parents and life at home, Mari was taken aback that she'd kept such a huge secret from him. But, she was really grateful that he hadn't known such a dark wound marring her soul.

"Why did you hide such a horrible event from us?" Rintarou-san asked, finally breaking the silence and gaining grunts of approval from the other men. "I understand that it must have been very traumatic, but you know that I'll always be willing to help no matter the circumstance, Mari-chan."

She nodded, looking away from his intense stare and focusing on her intertwined fingers. "I know, but I didn't want to involve anyone if I could help it. I wasn't even going to press charges if it meant going public with the whole story. Ami couldn't know and I didn't want to expose my sisters to that type of publicity."

"How did you end up in court?" Natsume crossed his arms and fixed her with a ruthless glare. He was still not very fond of her even now, not that she cared either way. As far as she was concerned, he could go rot in a cave somewhere at the bottom of an ocean.

"The medic who treated me in the ambulance insisted and handled most of the legal dealings. He made sure that my lawyer knew to keep the story quiet and hold my name from the public along with any pictures of my face. I don't know how he did it since the Nishiomis are household names, but he did and I'm very thankful for his kindness."

Ema-chan piped in, tears threatening to fall from warm brown, "That's why the two of you couldn't walk with me to school for a month."

"I spent most of my time during that month playing on the guitar," Mari said, "If Kyo hadn't been so annoying about eating food then I wouldn't have left my room." She glared pointedly at her sister and nudged her with an elbow when Kyo only grinned.

"And the man who helped you? Where is he now?" Mari blinked away her tears as she glanced up to meet Masaomi-san's kind face.

"A few months after Isao's sentence was passed, he went missing for a week before the police found his body." Her breath shuddered and Fuuto's grip tightened around her fingers. "They said he'd committed suicide—even found a note with his penmanship."

Miwa-san's gasp flitted through the throng of men, her husband wrapping a comforting arm around her shoulders, and Ema-chan's face bleached itself of color at the news. Hikaru and Natsume were the only two who didn't seem surprised by the information, but their siblings were thrown through another loop. Yusuke-sempai shared a glance with Iori and the two helped their overwhelmed step-sister out the window before she collapsed where she stood. It was too much for her friend to handle and Mari felt terrible that she had to hear everything at once with very little time to process. Every excuse Kyo or Mari had used to keep Ema-chan out the dark was rushing back to the surface, and it would probably take a lot of time before the brunette would be able to trust them again.

Louis waited until the three teenagers shut the door and asked, "You don't believe he would end his life."

She shook her head, "The day before he disappeared, he came to my house and visited. He didn't say anything to make me believe he was suicidal."

"You're blaming his death on the father of the son who'd raped you, I assume?" Natsume raised an eyebrow at the stubborn tilt to her jaw. She had become many things in the last few hours, but damn it if she would allow to doubt what she knew was the truth. "Have you said your theories to the police or anyone else?"

Kyo jumped in before Mari could answer, to her annoyance, "You think that Nishiomi-san will kill her if she opens her mouth."

"It's plausible that his son will do that on his own."

"Natsume!" Subaru snapped, eyes flashing in warning as he stepped out from beside his mother. "Enough, I'm sure Mari has thought of that as well. There is no need to frighten her even more."

Azusa and Tsubaki grabbed their triplet's shoulder in a firm grip before he could open his mouth to release a scathing comment. Mari knew his relationship with Subaru was very hazardous, but she never realized how awful it truly was. His eyes locked with Azusa's then Tsu's before he jerked out of their grip to storm out the room. The door slamming made everyone jumped and Miwa-san shook her head sadly.

"So, now that Nishiomi is free from prison, what's your plan?" Tsubaki asked, trying to bring the subject back under wraps, and Mari was a little unnerved by the seriousness of his tone despite the cheery glimmer in his gaze. "He knows about your relationship with Fuuto-kun and probably has your address."

Azusa nodded, "It isn't safe for you or your sisters to live by yourselves."

Miwa-san clapped her hands together, a gentle smile curving her lips, "The three of you can live at Sunrise Residence until Ukyo-san can file a restraining order."

As if that will stop that bastard from coming near my sisters or me. Mari bit back her pessimism and nodded her head in gratitude. It was probably the safest thing to do rather than wait until Isao figured out their apartment complex (if he hadn't already). She wouldn't risk their lives over losing her independence, especially if her rapist was implying threats towards her baby sister. "I'm sorry for ruining such a happy moment for you two the other day." She bowed her head and Kyo followed suit quickly before she fell off the bed. "Thank you for your kindness and hospitality."

"Oh, dear," Miwa-san left her husband's side and reached around her son to touch Mari's cheek. "I think of you as a part of my family, and if my child is ever endangered I will do everything within my power to ensure their safety. Now I imagine you are very exhausted after telling us such a dramatic story, so shall we leave and let you rest some more?"

She began to shoo both her children and husband out the door, and refused to give any of them time to ask any more difficult questions. As it was, Mari didn't know what else she could explain without becoming choked up. The blonde was surprised she was able to even tell the events surrounding her past relationship with Isao in the first place. Maybe it was thanks to her sister's comforting presence, or Fuuto being attached to her side and keeping her warm when she only felt numb and cold. Her heart sputtered to a freezing stop when particular memories shoved their way to the front, and if she stopped speaking for too long, Kyo was quick to pick up where she'd left off. While Kyo had been kept in the dark during the beginning, she eventually squeezed everything out of Mari before the blonde returned to school. It was good therapy to talk it out with her sister rather than her shrink, and while she had begun to shut herself down emotionally not too long after that, Kyo accepted it all with open arms.

Kyo lifted her head, endless forest eyes peering into Mari's face with a slight glazed concentration. She was reading her aura, attempting to comprehend what her erratic emotions (or lack thereof) were trying to say that her mouth couldn't. Niwa-sempai had yet to say one word and he watched the interaction with mild interest but clearly respected Mari enough to give her some breathing room. And the blonde was going to need a lot of that after sharing her secret to them. After another minute of silence passed, Kyo sighed and stood up. "We're going to check up on Ami-chan. If you need something, let us know."

Mari's hand flashed, the IV taped securely atop her hand jerked sickeningly in her skin, and halted Kyo from leaving. "Promise me something, Kyoko."

"What?" Jade met sapphire in a clash of color and the two boys watched the scene with budding curiosity now as a tiny tremble passed over Mari's hand.

The guitarist took a shuttering breath and tightened her fingers around Kyo's wrist. "No matter how annoying it is that Niwa-sempai hovers over you, I want you to become attached to his side until this gets settled." Her sister opened her mouth, a protest ready to hiss from her lips, but Mari's eyes brightened, a spark of her ferocity having returned as she snarled, "I will not lose you! You hear me, Kyoko Himimori?"

Teeth gritted and brows furrowed in a scowl, Kyo nodded in understanding before pulling her wrist free. Niwa-sempai escorted the twitching petite girl away after exchanging a look with Mari. She may not know everything about the older boy, but she could clearly see his determination to protect his girlfriend to the final breath if he had to. Very melodramatic, but she wouldn't put it past him to give everything he had to ensure Kyo's safety.

Fuuto nuzzled her neck, his breath stirring a few pale strands and bringing a rise of goosebumps to her flesh, and she closed her eyes as his other hand kneaded her hip. She slid over some more on the bed to give him some room and he gladly filled the gap with his body. His arms wrapped around her waist tightly and pulled her flush against his chest. She could hear his thundering heart against her ear and the gentle rhythm of his lungs filling with air. The soft cloth of his shirt brushed against her nose with each inhale, and she sighed as his fingers wove their way through her hair, his nails pressing firmly on her scalp.

Her muscles began to loosen and she felt like she could breathe easier now as the idol continued to comb through her messy waves. She was bewildered at how weak and fragile she had become in last few hours. Where had all her spunk and independence gone? Suddenly, Isao's word came to the forefront of her mind: "Did that little pipsqueak break you, Mari-koi? You've never been this timid before."

As quickly as her doubt appeared, it was immediately kicked out the window and she berated herself furiously for even blaming Fuuto. It wasn't his fault that all the emotions she'd been keeping under lock and key were resurfacing. Sure, she's been dealing with anger or irritation when it came to the pop star in the past, but these feelings of concern and love for someone other than herself and her sisters were strange. She was still learning how to properly handle them and every time she thought she had a proper handle on it, Fuuto would do something that shattered all of her progress. Maybe that was normal when you felt something so strong for someone else. How could she possibly remain true to herself and still love Fuuto the same way? Her fingers bunched the fabric of his shirt in sudden panic. What if her emotional turmoil became a sure found way for Isao to tear her apart?

There was nothing that could keep her heart from resembling a black hole if something ever terrible happened to her sisters. But that wasn't true. Not anymore. There was one more person whose life she would mourn and fall into a pit of darkness if they died. Her eyes watered at just the thought. She needed to back away from Fuuto, she had to keep him safe, and if Isao was to use him to get to her…

"Stop," Fuuto murmured, lifting her chin and glaring down into a pair tearful sapphires. "Don't worry yourself into a fit or I'll be most displeased if I have to wait for another two days for you to wake up."

"Look at me, Fuuto! I can't go one minute without freaking out." God, she hated how her voice sounded like every cliché woman suffering from terrible thoughts. This wasn't some fucking drama that eventually ended in a happy ending—no, this was real life where it did everything in its power to ruin her life. She couldn't enjoy the warmth of another's embrace, the laughter of her friends, or the happiness of just being free to do what she wanted with her future. "Isao is going to do everything he can to break me. Either he has me or no one else can!"

"What does that matter? He won't be able to touch you."

"What does it matter?! Don't you see, you fucking baka?" Her voice cracked and the tears began to fall pass her eyelashes. "It doesn't matter how well you protect me or my sisters, Isao is the son of a CEO with numerous resources that could destroy all of your lives."

"You are panicking over things that have yet to happen." Despite how much of a fool she was acting, Fuuto kept his cool as he brushed the large droplets away with a thumb.

How could he not be worried about the future? These little moments together could be one of the last they had, and he was telling her to not worry about the man that had nearly destroyed her soul? He's lost his fucking marbles if he thought she wasn't going to worry herself into creating an ulcer. "How are you—"

The shriek was caught by his mouth as he successfully shut her up and proceeded to occupy her with other thoughts. His fingers trailed down the length of her jawline to the naked divot of her collarbone. Shivers wracked her spine as he pulled away from her gasping mouth to trail kisses down her neck and quickly latched to her jugular, his favorite spot. He sucked and licked until she was a writhing, mewling mess. Who was she to question him without any consequences? She should have just trusted him to handle everything instead of questioning it all and his ability to keep her safe. Mari was beginning to realize her mistake as his hand blazed a path over her chest until it reached the bottom of her shirt. She arched her back, begging for his touch, but he refused to oblige her much to her disappointment.

His other hand continued to weave its way through her hair and she moaned as he nibbled at her neck with sharp teeth. She was unable to move herself away from him and with his hand at the back of her head, there was no way for her to pull her neck from his probing teeth. She found it hard to concentrate her thoughts into coherent sentences and at that moment, she was glad for the distraction. The passion of their love was giving her some sense of control—this heat pooling into stomach was familiar along with their combined raggedy breathing. The melting caramel hooded by a pair of thick lashes as he gazed up at her were one of the sexiest things she's seen. The way his fawn curls teased her exposed throat as his nose nuzzled at the little love bite he'd left eased the constriction of her vocal cords.

Fuuto Asahina was many things to the world—a singer, an idol, a rising pretty boy who'd one day rival the hottest stars. But to her he was so much more: a fucking tease, a jerk that always kicked her down the right the path, and a friend that had quickly changed into a lover who did everything in his power to better understand her wild emotional swings. She'd never tell him out loud, his head would only grow larger if he ever found out, but she truly cared for him. Far more than just 'I like him' or 'I like, like him'.

"You can't…" she gasped as his teeth nipped their way back up to her lips, "Just use sex to distract me all the time."

He chuckled, his eyes twinkling in mischief, "Ah, but that's where you are wrong."

"And how's t-that so?" She groaned out the last word when his tongue licked sensually along her bottom lip.

Fuuto bypassed her lips for her forehead, his eyes closing lightly and she found the gesture more affectionate and soothing than any other peck they'd shared. "No one is ever going to make you feel the same way that I make you feel."

"That doesn't answer my question."

"I'm not offering sex, baka Mari, but an outlet for your pent up emotions."

"Sexually." She raised any eyebrow.

"Not always, but since we can't go anywhere at the moment…" He shrugged and shifted her around in his arms until she rested her head on his shoulder.

She didn't say anything after his admission in favor of studying his flushed face. His eyes were burning with heat and she could see his pulse beating erratically at his neck. As much as she hated to be manipulated, in this case, Mari was very glad that he had. She closed her eyes and listened to her boyfriend breathe deeply.

He'd successfully deterred her heart from falling into a void of unadulterated panic and fear. And she was just so thankful that he hadn't thrown his hands in the air and walked away for her to handle it on her own. His way of calming her down was a little (more like a lot) different from how Kyo soothed her, but it worked.

"You won't leave?" She whispered, a little ashamed for still being afraid and keeping him from sleeping in his own bed.

Fuuto's arms tightened and his lips brushed against her temple in a silent promise. "Just sleep already."

She smiled and snuggled closer to his burning warmth. Tomorrow, she decided, she would regain her wit and strength, but for one more day she would lean on Fuuto. Tomorrow she would be able to stand on her own two feet again and face what the world had to hurl at her next. She could do it.

After all, she's done it plenty of times before.