Chapter Two: Bruises

As promised, BlackStar right off the bat! Thanks to all of you who faved, reviewed, and followed the last chapter! :)

Big thanks to my friend Olive for agreeing the beta the story! You rock! ;) This chapter is dedicated to you.

When Tsubaki reawakened, she was still in her cell, but someone was holding her. Her heart leapt as she realized who it was.

"BlackStar…" she moaned, rolling over to see if her assumptions were right.

Sure enough, there he was, his green eyes growing wide as he realized that she was awake.

"Tsubaki!" He cried happily, sitting up and inspecting her. "Tsubaki I was so worried, I can't…I'm going to rip that stupid chainsaw into tiny little pieces! Do you feel okay?"

Tsubaki nodded, and then touched her shoulder, wincing as prickles of pain spread through her flesh. She whimpered, and felt BlackStar's hand grip her own. "They stitched it up. That dumbass nicked an artery, that's why there was so much blood. What the hell happened?"

"Giriko…" Tsuaki mumbled, using her good arm to prop herself up. "H-he attacked me…cut my shoulder…and beat me up."

"That bastard. Why wasn't I-I shouldn't have let him go anywhere near you! Grahhh! What the hell was he thinking, beating my weapon up like that!" BlackStar grabbed her good hand and helped over to the wall. "The next time I even catch a whiff of his scent, he's going down! I won't even need you, Tsubaki, I'll rip him limb from limb! I'll knock his teeth out and shove them down his throat!" He was pacing now, stomping from one end of the cell to the other.

The wall against Tsubaki's back suddenly felt much colder, and primal fear rose inside her. Her heart was beating in her throat again, and she felt like she was about to choke on it.

"BlackStar…" Tsubaki mumbled, and he immediately turned to face her.

"What's wrong?"

Tsubaki was embarrassed, she could feel her face flushing with color. "Can y-you stay?" She asked, staring at her lap.

"Of course!" BlackStar responded, dashing over to her quickly. "Never fear, BlackStar's here! I'm not going to let any of these Aracna-whatever people get close to you!"

Tsubaki smiled, all the fear from the last few minutes gone. She knew that BlackStar would fight to the end to protect her. It was one of the reasons he was such a good partner.

BlackStar sat down next to her, and very carefully snaked an arm around her shoulders. Tsubaki blushed again, but was grateful for his comfort. She was just happy that she wasn't alone here.

Tsubaki leaned against his shoulder, and she felt him flinch in surprise, but accept the touch. She was just so tired, and BlackStar's embrace was so warm. Her stomach also was burning with hunger and her throat was dry with thirst, but there wasn't anything either of them could do about that, but pray they were fed soon. Tsubaki didn't know how Mifune's attempt to free them was working, but she hoped that all contact between Giriko and them would stop. It seemed like what he had done to her was unrelated to Arachnophobia's plans for Tsubaki and BlackStar.

Tsubaki moaned as she shut her eyes, relaxing against BlackStar. "I wonder what everyone back home is doing," She murmured, trying to ignore her throbbing, sore muscles. Her stomach still hurt from Giriko's blow, and so did her throat, but she knew that it'd fade soon.

"Not sure," BlackStar answered, "probably trying to find us, or freaking out or something lame." Tsubaki felt his arm tighten around her shoulder, but she didn't think it was a motion of comfort. It was a motion of anger.

"BlackStar…." Tsubaki said warningly, but it was too late. His muscles tightened, and she turned her head to see his face contorted with anger.

"Your neck. The bruises are appearing," He responded in a deadly calm voice. "I can see that bastard's thumbprint, in purple and yellow and brown." BlackStar snarled. "Your stomach, let me see it Tsubaki."

"BlackStar!"

"Let me see it!" He roared furiously, moving to kneel in front of her, yet not touching her shirt himself. Compassion rose in Tsubaki. BlackStar was an idiot, but a gentlemanly one.

Knowing the result wasn't going to be good, Tsubaki carefully exposed her stomach. Right above her belly button, there was a blue, greyish area, lit occasionally by a spot of a sickly shade of yellow. Even Tsubaki winced when she saw it, and she refused to look into BlackStar's eyes, knowing the demonic glint that must be in them.

When she finally found the courage to look at him, she saw his internal struggle. He was fighting between staying with his partner or the urge to try for the hundredth time to kick the door down and destroy the person who had done this.

"Giriko…" BlackStar muttered, before suddenly switching to his highest volume. "I'LL RIP YOU APART! HOW DARE YOU MESS WITH MY PARTNER?! HOW DARE ANY OF YOU MOURNS COME CLOSE TO HER! I'LL SHOW YOU WHAT REAL FEAR IS! I'LL MAKE YOU ALL FEEL HER PAIN TENFOLD! JUST YOU WAIT UNTIL I GET OUT OF HERE! COWARDS, KEEPING ME LOCKED UP!" He roared, and Tsubaki flinched. She wasn't sure if they'd ignore BlackStar or come running, and she wasn't sure which one was the better option.

"BlackStar, I'm alright, really. Just stop yelling, okay? You'll get your chance to beat all of them up, but for now let's rest. For me?" Tsubaki asked calmly, feeling a little bad for adding in the "for me", even though it was in both of their best interests.

BlackStar looked down at the floor, then turned to face her.

"Tsubaki," He muttered, his voice hoarse. "Only for you. We can rest, if that's what you want. Just…if I ever get the chance to destroy these damn people, promise that you won't hold me back."

Tsubaki nodded very seriously, then lowered herself to the ground, and curled up, wincing a bit as she used sore and bruised muscles. She felt BlackStar's hand rest itself on her shoulder.

"Sleep," He murmured hoarsely. "I'm not going anywhere, and I'm not letting anyone lay a finger on you."

Tsubaki smiled, and with her good arm reached for BlackStar's hand. Soon, his calloused, rough skin was grasping hers tightly, and she squeezed it back, relaxing and fading off to sleep.