A couple of days later Setsuna was absent when the roll was called for class in the morning. Konoka spun a pencil in a full circle between her thumb and finger. At the front Takahata had drawn up a diagram with chalk.

"Konoka-kun?"

Startled Konoka jumped slightly, "Sorry Takahata-sensei I was thinking about something."

"That's alright, just please try to pay more attention next time," Takahata said. "Asuna would you like to come down to write your answer?"

Nervously the redhead pushed back her chair and made her way to the front of the room. As Asuna wrote on the blackboard up front Konoka gazed out the window, restless. Hang on…Setsuna was down there on the ground soaking wet again but she was in casual clothes with a book bag strapped over her shoulder. She had a book in her hand which was miraculously dry. As Konoka watched curiously Setsuna took off her shoe, pouring water out and pinned back part of her hair. She flexed her fingers experimentally, frowning at them.

Konoka was still wondering where she'd been when she headed for class with Asuna ranting about the injustice of getting the answer wrong because she'd misspelt one letter when she spied the girl herself at the bottom of the stairs, inspecting the book with great dislike. As she put it inside her book bag and looked up, contemplating something she caught sight of Konoka. Flushing slightly red Setsuna turned on her heel and began to walk away. Konoka noticed something then. One strip of bandage from her hand had unravelled, revealing grey metal underneath it.

As Setsuna hurried out of the building she hid her hands in her pockets. Of all the times for it to happen now… she'd had to escape a rolling boulder, a hail of spears and that stupid mechanical golem. Not to mention she nearly lost her sword when she'd gotten her foot trapped in the seaweed at the bottom of the lake in the underground library when the book she'd gotten had fallen into the lake itself.

The bandages were getting too wet too and started to peel off. She could feel it. As she quickened her pace she unfortunately didn't look at where she was going. Before she knew it she'd crashed into something fluffy and soft-well judging from what her face was planted in.

Raising her head she came face to face with a pink fluffy bear with a love heart in the middle. The bear spoke, "Hey, you ok?"

Setsuna just kind of stared. Then she realized that there was a guy holding the bear. Removing it from his face he said grinning, "Sorry, couldn't help myself name's Senji Sawada. Could you direct me to where Konoka…" He trailed off suddenly, glancing past Setsuna.

"Senji-kun, what are you doing here?" Konoka rushed past her suddenly, tackling the man in a warm hug.

"Um well I missed your birthday so I thought I'd come to give you an apology gift. I heard you got held hostage but it looks like you're ok," Senji laughed. He pried himself off her, passing the bear to her.

Senji was handsome if one went for the strong, tall dark and handsome type. He had an air of someone who was well-bred and had a good upbringing. Black hair cut short, dark brown eyes. Pity, Setsuna thought. They might've been able to become friends if she wasn't who she was.

"Oh hey I want you to meet Secchan. Uh well her name's Setsuna," Konoka said brightly, hooking an arm in hers and nearly yanking it out. "And Secchan this is Senji-kun. He's my…friend."

"Friend? I hope you won't be calling me that next year when we're engaged," Senji echoed.

"He's your fiancé?" Setsuna straightened.

"Yes, is there something wrong?" Senji asked, confused.

"Nothing," Setsuna plastered a smile on her face. "I'm pleased to meet you."

Relaxing Senji extended his hand. When Setsuna hesitated to shake he looked at Konoka uncertainly. "Did I do something wrong…?"

"No I don't think so," Konoka said but she looked puzzled.

Taking out the hand that was covered Setsuna shook his briefly then quickly put it back in her pocket. Senji was giving her strange looks and his eyes lingered on the sword she'd strapped over her shoulder.

"Well I was hoping that we could go eat dinner later together at my uncle's restaurant," Senji said after a moment.

"Sure," Konoka said enthusiastically.
"I'll pick you up at 6pm," Senji leaned forwards kissing her on the cheek and nodded at Setsuna, "Pleased to meet you Setsuna-san," Senji said.

He was still looking at her weirdly. Trying to ignore it Setsuna nodded briefly to him. He went to leave when something dropped out from the inside of his jacket and landed onto the ground.

"Excuse me but you dropped something," Setsuna bent down to pick it up. It was a long silver knife but the edge was made like a shark's teeth. Having seen more weapons in her life that she'd like, the maker's name which was engraved in the side on the handle caught her eye. "This is a nice knife Sawada-san. It must have cost you quite a lot."

"I've had it for a while. It was a present from my dad," Senji said.

Setsuna stood up, turning the knife over in her hand before handing it blade first back to him, "Be careful with it. You might hurt someone one of these days." At the strange look he gave her she asked, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing your expression just reminded me of someone I know," Senji smiled at her but it didn't reach his eyes. "Do you always carry that sword around?"

"Always," Setsuna nodded. "Do you always carry a knife around?"

His face turning purple he said, "I'm going to go to a friend's. He said he wanted to look at it."

Senji watched her for a moment before turning and walking away. Konoka let out a breath, frowning slightly after him, "Mou…I thought you two were going to end up fighting somehow."

"Sorry."

"What was all that about anyway?" Konoka asked.

"He was looking at me funny."

Konoka was smiling at her warmly, "Probably because you were acting weird about shaking his hand."

"Eh…well there's a reason for that," Setsuna said.

"You know you're kind of a hard person to read but I think I'm getting the hang of it," Konoka said brightly."You're just closed off and that's ok. I get it. If you want why don't you come to the outdoor party on Friday, out at the tram restaurant? It's this thing Ayaka does once every month for students in the class. You don't have to talk to anyone just mingle."

"Um sure," Setsuna said.

"Great! I'll see you there. It's at 9pm," Konoka beamed at her then twirled around, waving at her over her shoulder before walking away.

"Konoka-ojou-sama," Setsuna called after her.

Glancing over her shoulder at her questioningly Konoka said, "What is it Secchan?"

"That weapon he had, it's been banned for five years now."

"He said he got it from his dad," Konoka shrugged. She looked thoughtful, "I'll ask him about it at dinner tonight."

"The only way he could've gotten it was through illegal means or the black market. He was probably lying about where he got it," Setsuna gazed at her.

"You were confronting him of course he'd act defensive," Konoka said. She continued, her tone teasing mirth in her eyes, "And while we're at it you're pretty mysterious too. And secretive is there a reason why you didn't answer my questions am I that scary or something?"

In spite of herself Setsuna was startled into a smile. Privately she thought that Konoka being scary was kind of funny. Konoka was the least scary person Setsuna had ever met in her life. Then again that probably wasn't hard. She didn't feel any less suspicious about Senji though.

"Just be careful ok?" Setsuna said.

"There's nothing to worry about," Konoka smiled.

Setsuna looked away from her slightly, an odd expression crossing her face. She kind of looked apprehensive. Nodding curtly to Konoka she walked away.

A.N: Because these chapters were short I thought I'd post them all. Next chapter will come out soon.