Chapter 2, not much to say but thank you for Tenshi for working on such short notice.


Class started while Naota and Shuichi were having their little moment and had to stand outside for a good part of the class. Naota was happy though, because she was able to hold on to his hand a lot longer. Shuichi didn't think much of it, if holding his hand was able to stop her from crying more then it was a small sacrifice, but it did feel weird holding the hand of another girl, he was mainly used to his mother's hand, big, strong, soft. Naota's hand was even smaller than his and was trembling slightly, it seemed weak. He felt a bit responsible for her. The following days were a lot calmer, Naota often sat next to Shuichi in the library and talked for a while about various books. Shuichi got to know a little more about Naota.

She liked reading mainly fantasy books with heroines, saying that the whole knight in shining armor was overplayed and over done and there weren't any unique knights anymore. Also she thought that women were stronger and fiercer than men, striking up a long argument between the two genders. Naota also went out to play with Hikaru for a couple of times, though she had to go to the nurse often for apparently falling on thin air. Shuichi also got to hear about Naota's dreams of which she told him about. Shuichi also got to know a bit more about her home life.

Her mom worked as a host and often worked late nights, when she gets home sometimes she's drunk and grabs Naota out of bed and beats her frustrations into her, sometimes verbally but most often physically. She wants Naota to become perfect in some way or another so she can exploit her and make money off of it to not work anymore. Naota was a good student but wasn't able to grasp things if it wasn't taught right to her, which meant she wanted plenty of examples. She was also a tad slow in writing and English. She did fairly well in music class but wasn't able to keep up in physical education since she didn't want anyone to see her bruises and scars.

"My mom wasn't always like this. Sometimes she would call me from bed so she can sleep peacefully at night. She used to cradle me in bed, and sometimes she'd cry because she was so lonely. She used to smile so much until dad went away. I don't know why but whenever I ask she calls daddy a very bad name and that he slept with another girl besides my mom. I don't get it but my mom got really angry at him. Ever since then, she's been like this." Naota explains one afternoon.

"Maybe she's still angry with your dad." Shuichi says.

"Maybe but why does she have to be angry with me? Did I do something wrong? Am I not trying hard enough? I just want to see her smile just like she used to." Naota says, laying her head down on the table.

"Sometimes it's just not enough. She wants to hurt your dad for doing that to her. Because of that she hurts you because you are his daughter." Shuichi says.

"But I didn't do anything bad; I just want my mommy to smile." Naota says. Shuichi sighed.

"Have you tried getting hundreds on your assignments?" Shuichi asks.

"I try but I always get at least 3 wrong, so I keep trying, but she's still mad. She get's mad because she wants me to be perfect. Can I be perfect for my mommy? So she can smile?" Naota asks Shuichi.

"No you can't, what she wants is to hurt you and your dad. Mainly your dad, but because he was your dad is why she gets mad and hits you. You are very smart and you know many things that other kids don't. You also can't be perfect, no one can." Shuichi says and Naota sighs. Shuichi felt a bit guilty for saying the hard truth, but she had to know.

Hikaru approached Naota after school, while Naota was packing her bag.

"Why are you hanging out with Minamino, Naota?" Hikaru asks.

"He's my friend now." Naota says.

"But we can't hang out like we used to! I know you're playing with us all but you mainly hang out with him!" Hikaru says, exaggerating by waving her hands around. Naota giggled.

"If you want you can come with us to the library." Naota says.

"Nah, the library is too library-ish, I want to go out and play. I know! Ask Shuichi to play with us! Tomorrow we're going to play soccer and we need more people to join!" Hikaru says excitedly.

"I don't know if Shuichi knows how to play soccer." Naota says and Hikaru slapped her back playfully.

"Come on Naota, you don't know until you ask. You don't have anything to lose." Hikaru says.

"Hmmm." Naota ponders.

"Alright, if you ask him to come play with us then I'll spend a day with you in the library, deal?" Hikaru says giving her hand out. Naota thought on it more, 'Well, it could be fun.'

"Deal!" Naota says and shakes Hikaru's hand.

"All right! You won't regret it Naota." Hikaru says and they both walked out of the classroom.

~Next Day~

Before class started Naota talked to Shuichi about Hikaru inviting both of them to come out and play soccer during lunch break. Shuichi wasn't too keen on the idea but Naota had a shine to her eyes when she mentioned it to him that he agreed. There were not that many kids on Hikaru's side but Shuichi and Naota evened it out.

"Glad you could come, now we can beat these suckers!" Hikaru shouted. Naota, Shuichi and Hikaru were in class 3 and the people they were facing were from class 5. There were these obnoxious kids that kept picking on Hikaru that had finally escalated into an all out soccer match.

"There's no way you can beat us Akiko!" One boy says, calling Hikaru by her last name. Another boy stuck his tongue out, the others were sneering. Hikaru growled and shrieked.

"You'll get what's coming to ya!" Hikaru shouts. "We're going to win this thing!!" Naota and Shuichi sweat dropped. ( ^_^; )

"Maybe she's going a bit too far with this?" Naota says uncertainly and Shuichi felt a big sigh coming on. The game started with another kid from class 2 being the referee and score keeper. The game began and Hikaru immediately took the ball, Naota and Shuichi close behind to try to protect her. It was a game of cat and mouse, one player from the other side stole the ball then it gets stolen again. It went on like this for a good five minutes until Shuichi made the first goal. Hikaru yelled and hugged Shuichi, making him go rigid again.

"That's the spirit Akage! Way to go!" Hikaru yells.

"Don't yell next to my ear, you wanna make me go deaf!?" Shuichi yells back a bit surprised yet irritated.

"Good! You have your head in the zone! Let's go!" Hikaru yells some more.

"Stop yelling!" The game returns again with Hikaru and another player scoring a goal giving them the lead 3-0. The other team players were frustrated and called a time out. Hikaru and Shuichi were panting hard. Naota got them some juice and soon, the game started yet again. Naota got the ball that time and was almost at the goal when suddenly she got rammed by two boys from the other team. She fell hard and felt a slight pain on her right ankle. She held it and they called a time out. Shuichi rushed over.

"Are you alright Naota?" Shuichi asks, kneeling down next to her.

"Yeah, just my ankle hurts." Naota says and Hikaru looked at her then glares at the other team.

"I call foul play! I saw you guys ramming into her! That's not fair!" Hikaru says; they just sneer and call each other names. "Grr! Let me at them!" Shuichi kept Hikaru from pummeling the other team. "Let go of me Akage! I'll give them a piece of my mind!"

"Not's now the time! We've already won! Naota needs to go to the nurse!!" Shuichi shouts. Hikaru growled some more until she calmed down.

"I'll get you bastards some other day!" Hikaru says, getting a reprimand from Naota to not cuss. Shuichi and Hikaru carry Naota to the nurse where she placed some ice and a bandage. The nurse gave Shuichi and Hikaru a note to take back to the teacher, saying Naota won't be able to attend due to her sprained ankle.

"I hate those guys, going after Naota like that; they must've planned it during their time out." Hikaru said, walking back to class.

"Well there's nothing we can do." Shuichi said.

"Uh-uh, there is something we can do Akage." Hikaru says.

"Can you stop calling me Akage? I have a name, it's Shuichi." He says but is ignored by Hikaru.

"We can prank them! Give them a good scare that will make them pee themselves! OH…I got a good plan Akage, and you are in it!" Hikaru says, pointing at him.

"Ahem, I'm not going to do anything, and my name is Shuichi not Akage!" He says.

"It'll be brilliant!" Hikaru continues, ignoring Shuichi's concerns, "They'll be crying for mommy once I'm through with them, come on Akage, I need you to right this down!" Hikaru says, pulling Shuichi to class.

"My name is Shuichi!"

~Next Day~

Naota was able to go to class this time, her ankle not giving her any trouble, but she did have a new bandage on her left cheek. Shuichi and Hikaru asked but she said she tripped again. Hikaru shrugged it off and started to tell Naota about her plan.

"Time to get back at those guys that hurt you Naota." Hikaru says.

"I'm fine you don't have to go to the extreme Hikaru." Naota says.

"I'm not going to forgive anyone who hurts my cute and little Naota." Hikaru says, grabbing Naota's head and hugging it to her chest. She started to pet her head like a little kid.

"Who says I belong to you!?" Naota shouts.

"I do since you've became my friend!" Hikaru says hugging Naota more tightly. Shuichi placed his hand on Hikaru's shoulders.

"You should really let go of her, you might crush her to death in your guy arms." Shuichi says nonchalantly.

"What did you say!?" Hikaru lets go of Naota's head, "Are you trying to pick a fight with me too Akage?" Naota had to hold her back again and Shuichi muttered something.

"So what are we going to do Hikaru?" Naota asks after she calms down.

"Well, I've noticed that they go to eat outside and they sometimes enter the abandoned warehouse. I got a plan to spook them in the warehouse. You see, we'll wear all black and get them one by one, to make them think that something is out to get them. We'll say that it's the spirits of your ancestors coming for revenge for hurting you!" Hikaru explains and gives off an evil laugh.

"But how are we going to lure them inside? And aren't there a lot of lights in the warehouse even though it's abandoned?" Naota asks.

"There's this basement that was installed though I'm not sure what it was used for. I got this challenge letter that I wrote to them. I'm gonna put it in their lockers when they go change they're shoes. Once they go into the basement, we'll take them down…Muhahaha!" Hikaru laughs evilly.

"So are we going to check the basement?" Naota asks.

"Yep that way we know where we're going. And if something scary pops out, then Akage here will take it on." Hikaru says, wrapping her arm around Shuichi's shoulder. His eyebrow twitched and he shook off Hikaru's arm.

"Who says I'll do anything?" Shuichi asks.

"I do, besides you're Naota's friend too, don't you want to do something against those guys." Shuichi stayed quiet and Hikaru snickered. "I thought so. Well today after school, we're going to the basement, operation: Get those kids is underway!"