Yo, everyone! I'm alive, and I've obviously started watching K-On!

Started talking to a consultant and we brainstormed this short little story. This'll be a 3-4 chapter story, so I apologize for the short nature of it. I'll be putting "fluff" in here because that's how I write now (Just tell me if I overdo it guys!). I hope I've improved!

Anyhow, ON TO THE STORY! .

Chapter 1:

Rebellion

I looked myself up and down in the mirror one last time before I left, just to be sure I had everything I'd need. Blonde hair up in a tight bun, makeup done to emphasize my blue eyes, and my new dress.

The dress was the obvious focus of this ensemble. It came down to just above my knees, had sequins sewn all over the part covering my body - which the dress hugged tightly - to catch the light. With a high, night-black neckline that slowly faded to deep purple as it fell farther down my curves, this dress was most definitely not something I was used to wearing.

The sleeves held tight to my skin all the way down my arms and had an inch-thick line of see-through fabric that ran all the way down to my wrists. I made a quick fix to a disobedient piece of hair and decided to slip on a simple silver chain choker for looks. My right wrist held a charm bracelet adorned by various music-themed ornaments.

I put on some shiny black four-inch heels over my black-stocking-covered feet and walked out the door.

I felt like I knew I was supposed to bring someone along with me, but I couldn't bring myself to contact Ricchan or anyone else when I knew that none of them approved of me attending this 'rave' thing. They would simply come to force me to not go, and I wanted to know what it was like.

I managed to grab my black handbag on my way out without noticing, glad because the accessory also carried my cell phone and some mace if I needed it. I slung the silver chain over my shoulder and walked out of the house without being seen.

"Well?"

"Well, what?" I asked back to Mio.

"Well, are you going to stop her, Ritsu?" I winced a little at the question. I knew from experience with people like that, namely myself, that she wouldn't be stopped even if I begged her.

"I couldn't stop her if I tried, you know." Mio looked incredibly anxious. We had called a small meeting to discuss Mugi's attending a rave, which was ridiculously stupid. She wanted to go, despite all our warnings of what it would be like.

"And? When has it ever stopped you before?" Aaaand she got me.

"I won't stop her, but I will go follow her."

"Bu- what? Doesn't that defeat the point?" Mio's face held a look of deep confusion.

"It gets out her urge to experience the rave, and it lets me keep her safe. Sound alright?"

Yui was asleep on the couch at her house, and conveniently knocked over a clock that let me know the rave was already beginning.

"Crap! I have to go, now!" I didn't give Mio a chance to stop me as I rushed out of Yui's house, grabbing my coat on the way.

I entered a large, clear area marked off by caution tape, makeshift doors, and ushers. After a quick show of some ID that indicated I was old enough to attend, which I really was, and a payment of 3000 Yen, I was in. As soon as I passed the threshold of one of the doors, the sheer volume of the pulsating music physically hit me.

Loud, electronic buzzes and beeps played alongside a steady bassline with heavily synthesized melodies. The music blocked out most other sound. Even though it hurt my ears a bit at first, the energy sort of hyped me up for the rave.

I could feel my hair, and the air, vibrating in time with the beat. Multicolored lasers and spotlights flashed around and made it difficult to see in the dark, smoky room, and fog machines were placed in various areas to keep the atmosphere up. In the center of the pavilion stood a bar of sorts, one side marked non-alchoholic.

I noticed several people, mostly guys, staring at me as I walked through the area smiling happily. I was enjoying my experience so far, even if the music wasn't quite my taste. I spotted a dance floor area and quickly made my way over to it, deciding to try my hand at copying the dances I was seeing performed.

Several couples, or flings, were spaced around in the corners and other secluded areas. How they found space in the crowd, I wasn't really sure. I shied away from several guys who walked up to me with a certain look in their eyes that seemed dangerous even to me, who wasn't used to this kind of situation.

After several hours of dancing with various people, guys and girls alike, I found myself enjoying the music quite a bit, even though I had originally found it sort of annoying. Time seemed to be flowing together, almost, and I wasn't sure exactly how long I'd been there. I knew only that I had spent the past few minutes with the same guy whose name I wasn't quite sure on, but was sure I wanted to get written down somewhere I wouldn't forget. A random creep had come up to me and tried to force a drink, and himself, on me. In my panic I'd forgotten my mace, which would've made a good threat, but in the end this guy had saved me.

I told him I was tired and we both wandered off the dance floor for the second or third time that night and found somewhere to stand a little away from the mass of bodies. As it got later and later, the room actually filled up more, which I found amusing in a way. Good thing I don't have school tomorrow, I found myself thinking.

A voice shook me from my thoughts. "-ame?"

"I'm sorry, what was that?" I shouted over the music.

"Name! What's your name?" He flashed a smile that showed off white teeth, with canines that appeared slightly longer than normal in the lighting.

"Kotobuki Tsumugi! You?"

"It's Taka! Sorry my name is kinda feminine!" I laughed the joke off and waved it away. 'Taka' wasn't generally used as a name, anyways. I didn't put much thought into it.

We talked for several minutes before Taka winced and put his hand on his leg. The music had died down to accomodate noise ordinances, but it was still loud enough to force us to raise our voices. "Hey, can you help me find somewhere to sit down? I've got a bad knee from an accident a long time ago."

I smiled and, of course, accepted. Why wouldn't I help this nice guy who had saved me from a creep?

It didn't take long for us to find a secluded spot where Taka could sit and rest his knee. He looked around shortly before sitting quickly, using me as a bit of a base to sit carefully. I sat down beside him, careful to keep an eye on the dress I was wearing. I didn't have any intention of flashing anyone.

"Thanks for this." Taka's voice sounded different, in a way. Harsher, almost mocking. Maybe it was because the music was quiet here, and I hadn't noticed it before. He was leaning back with his arms straight and his palms flat against the ground, his fingers facing away from his torso.

He wasn't unattractive: spiked black hair, dark eyes of undeterminable color, a thin but muscular frame, and a little taller than me even on the heels. I nodded and smiled warmly at him. He smirked in a way that didn't resemble the smile he'd given me several times before. I nodded my head and smiled my normal smile back.

"No, I meant thanks for being simple-minded." His left hand swung around his body and slapped something sticky across my mouth. Not a rag, more like tape. By the time I realized what was going on, I was already gagged and my purse with the mace had been kicked away by Taka's supposedly bad leg.

"You know what 'Taka' means, don't you? It means 'hawk.' Your name was... Mugi, right? More like Usagi." He was holding my hands above my head with strength that denied his wiry look. I couldn't kick or knee him from where he was kneeling, either.

I started to panic. Where we were, nobody could see us, and all I could really do was start crying.

"Now, normally, we are depicted as giving the drug before we do our business, but I like it better when my prey is awake and struggling. Lucky, lucky." Taka smirked that evil, menacing smirk again. It sent shivers down my spine, and in response to the fear I was feeling, I squeezed my eyes shut and continued crying as loudly as I could.

The next second, I heard a smack ring out and felt the right side of my face start stinging in pain. "I'll hit you harder if you don't keep quiet." Taka was right beside my face, and I could feel his hot breath in my ear as he spoke.

It was at this moment that I felt a hand touching my bare knee start to wander farther up my leg, pushing my skirt up as it did so. Thankfully, he eventually stopped and put his hand on top of my dress about halfway up my thigh. "No, not yet..." he murmured to himself and placed his hand on my hip.

I was bawling, but fighting back as much noise as I could. I was not a very tough girl, and being hit wasn't on the top of my list. I was going to save that for if it was nearly too late.

His hand had found its way up to my sides, beginning to wander around to the front of my body. Taka was coming far, far too close to my chest for comfort. I was begging whatever deities would listen to save me from that hell, but nothing came.

A finger brushed the underside of my right breast and I literally screamed through the tape, as loud as I could. I stopped him from continuing, but earned another hard smack across my face. "Shut up, you little-"

Taka's sentence was cut off very abruptly as I saw his eyes widen in what appeared to be fear.

I picked up Mugi's purse when I saw what was going on. I'm sorry, Mugi. Just endure it for a tiny bit longer, please...

I had arrived far too late. The only reason I had even found her was because I had heard a tortured, yet muffled, shout come from this direction. I had halted my search for Mugi to investigate, only to find her being held down and... violated by this bastard.

While I was digging in her purse I heard a resounding smack sound through the small alcove Mugi and her captor were located in. She was still crying, her head now turned to one side and the left side of her face reddening with blood from where she'd been hit.

My hand clenched around a small, cylindrical metal canister. Pepper spray! Yes!

I approached Mugi's assaulter with what I hoped to be a look of pure intent to harm in my eyes. I knew that I wasn't the most threatening person in the world, but I still knew how to point and press.

I dialed 110 on my cell phone while the orange spray flew out of the small canister towards his face. He was able to function for about ten seconds before he fell to the ground clawing at his eyes. Mugi lay on the ground and ripped the tape from her mouth before proceeding to let out a series of screaming sobs.

After alerting the police to my situation, they told me to stay where I was and to spray him again if he tried to get away. Within ten minutes he was in handcuffs and we had both given our statements.

"Can you make it home, Mugi?"

With a quiet shake of her head she started walking away from me. When I questioned her and tried to stop her, she mumbled in a bland voice that the only thing she wanted was to stay at one of her villas, where nobody could bother her. I silently went with her, holding her purse and hugging the girl herself while we walked.

So anyways guys, I really hope you liked it. I believe I've gotten better in my year-long hiatus, but you may disagree. Sorry for the mildly controversial theme here, but I wouldn't have written it if it wasn't going to end up with her safe. That's the second worst crime out there to me, first being pedophilia.

Please make all criticism constructive, flaming at a minimum! I'll be updating next Monday, on time hopefully! (I don't know if I've gotten over that little habit.)

I'm graduating high school this Thursday! Yay!

Thanks for reading,

-Kyle