She was afraid, why? She knew if she turned around now she could kick his ass six ways to Sunday. But why wouldn't she? Takashi if she did would he be angry, even if it where is self defense? She couldn't stop to think about that. She needed to find away to ditch Mitsukuni but how? When she came to an abrupt stop with a thud. She shook her head and looked up in time to see Takashi spring to his feet and vault over her. She watched as Taskahi collided with Mitsukuni, not taking her chances she picked up and ran into the house.

Leiko booked it for her room, where she locked the door. She felt a hot burning in her arm where the bunny of doom still stuck. She ripped it out and walked into the bathroom where she located the rubbing alcohol and her sewing kit. After soaking the needle and sting in rubbing alcohol she began to stitch the wound. She felt the knock at the door as she continued to stitch the wound in her bicep. She paused for a moment before she spoke.

"It's open," she said irritated. She watched the door cautiously open out the corner of her eye.

"Are you…"

"Do I need to walk around the estate armed Takashi?" She looked up at him. He has a few good scratches to his face, but not much more. His chest was bare, and he was still in his pajama pants. She glared at him as she pulled another stitch closed.

"I'm sorry he-"

"Is not allowed on the estate while I'm here… The only thing my shitty step zeeme is good at, is keeping that kid AWAY from me. I don't understand why he hates me so much…" she said turning her attention back to finish mending her arm. He came in further and touched her cheek; she looked up into his grey eyes. She felt the deep reverberation start but she silenced him with her lips. She felt his sigh as he leaned in, wrapping his arms around her as he deepened the kiss. She could feel his tongue lightly brush her bottom lip. She pulled away and smiled as she set down the bloody needle. She gasped in surprise, the sink and counters where covered in her blood. She looked down to see a trail of blood, and that she too was covered in it. She looked at Takashi and blushed, he was smudged with it.

She hopped off the counter grabbing the edge of her sports bra.

"I would invite you to shower with me, but you don't have a change of clothes in here." She felt him stiffen as she turned her back and jerked the bloody garment off. She moved to the shower back to where he had been and turned on the hot water tap and stuck her hand in the spray. She waited for it to get really hot before she turned the cold water tap on a little. She stripped off her shorts and stepped in, she cried out in pain as the hot water hit her fresh stitches. Rolling her shoulders she looked around the shower for her "girly basket" filled with her various body washes, hair care products and razor. She found it sitting on a small seat like platform jutting from the shower's wall. Sorting through the various bottles she found her organic coconut milk shampoo and conditioner. She found her toothbrush and toothpaste in a suction cup holder under the shower head. As she began to scrub her teeth she sensed the disturbance outside the shower door. She poked her head out to see Bennie collecting her bloody garments, bennies eyes darted to her. She signed carefully, asking if everything was ok.

"Yah, just a really bad scratch," she said returning to the shower's spray.

Leiko exited the bathroom in her towel, fresh and clean. Bennie has already laid out a set of fresh garments for her to ware. She quickly dried her body off and put them on nearly tipping over when she put on her thy high dress socks. Bennie has made her kneel as she brushed and tightly French braided her hair. She felt the pulse of another knock at her door, it slid open and Takashi leaned his head in. 'Wait.. I locked the doors' she thought as she stood. Bennie handed Takashi the bunny of doom and seemed to warn him about something. Bennie left, and Takashi entered the room. He stood in a blue button down jacket and black slacks, his un-tied tie still hung around his un-turned down collar. Leiko approached him, and grabbed the black tie and began to maneuver a Windsor knot. He stood watching her hands as they tightened the knot to his neck. She flipped down his collar and smiled, which was eclipsed by his mouth. She closed her eyes, as her skin began to tingle from the intensity. His lips left hers and traveled down her neck, he spoke lips to her skin.

"I can stay home," the vibration of his voice so close made her tremble.

"No you can't, go do your school thing." She said sighing as she placed her right hand on his neck, she gently pushed his face back to hers.

"I ca-"

"No, I'm going to go shopping, I have an appointment to take some entrance exams, "she trailed off as a light bulb went off in her head. She didn't know why she hadn't realized this before. "I know why Mitsukun hates me."

"What?"

"Your his best friend, I'm taking you away from him." Takashi looked into her eyes, he already knew that.

"It's no excuse" his voice vibrated low up her right arm.

"It is. imagine being as young as he was when he found out.. He acted like any child would when you take something important away."

"He tried to kill you"

"He thought I was taking away his only friend." Takashi lightly caressed Lieko's face, he pressed his lips to her forehead. "I don't hate him." She said abruptly, Takashi looked slightly taked off guard.

"Then why-"

"My parents are the ones holding the grudge.. I got over it a long time ago, what's the point in living my life bitterly? I didn't understand why he did what he did, but I forgave him."