Warning: May be a little OOC and is most definitely AU. Sorry it's shorter than the other chapters have been lately.

Chapter 9: Rapunzel

Kazune quickly ducked as Karin's leg came swinging around where his head had been only moments before. She was fast, just not as fast as him.

Smoothly, he caught her leg with his hand, still mid air. Her eyes immediately widened. Before she could retaliate though, he had swiped his leg under her left as he let go of her.

Falling to her butt, she reacted quickly rolling back and out of Kazune's reach and leaping back to her feet. He had managed to knock the breath out of her, but she didn't let it show knowing he would take full advantage of her if she did. Just one of the million things he had taught her. Don't show any kind of weakness, because anything is fair in a real fight.

Facing off, the two of them took small steps around each other both trying to determine the best way to push forward. Karin was the first to attack, losing her patience.

Jumping forward she punched her arm out in a clear attempt to hit Kazune in the stomach, which he dodged easily to the side. Slamming his arm down on the back of her neck as she passed, he was surprised when instead of stumbling she went with it and rolled to the floor.

Just like before, he figured she would jump back up and face off before attacking again, but if there was one thing about Karin that he should have learned about her was that the girl was anything but predictable.

Instead, she did not go all the way to her feet and instead opted to swing her leg behind her just like Kazune had done to her. Kazune's legs were knocked out from under him, but instead of falling all the way to the ground, with his quick reflexes he jumped into a backhand-spring letting himself get far enough away to avoid any immediate threats.

But unlike before, Karin did not wait to attack again. She ran at him, ready to take him head on. She knew that she wasn't as strong or as fast as him, but maybe if she took him by surprise, just maybe she could beat him for once.

Unfortunately for Karin, Kazune was ready and caught her shoulders in his hands and used her momentum to steer her slightly to his left. He held on tightly as she fell to the ground and he followed on top. Karin tried to hit him as she went down, but the tight grip on her shoulders did not make things easy. Plus, the moment she hit the floor all real hope of winning against him went right out the window.

The only thing she could hope for was to draw out the match as long as possible. Unfortunately, with Kazune straddling her and fighting to get control of her arms, it wasn't being that easy.

"Yield," Kazune said calmly as he finally caught her wrists and pinned them to the ground. Karin quickly shook her head no though as she managed to wrap her leg around one of Kazune's knees and yank it out from under him.

In an awkward scramble of legs and arms, Karin and Kazune froze again as Kazune twisted Karin's arms up behind her back and practically was pinning her to him in a hug on their knees. "Yield," he repeated smirking just slightly.

Being so close to him Karin didn't like the way her body seemed to be completely tense and in overdrive. Ever since overhearing Kazune and Micchi's conversation, Karin couldn't deny that there was something between Kazune and her, or at least on her side, and it was driving her crazy. Not that she let anyone know that.

Really, it was the only thing Karin didn't confide in Kazune. Now that he knew about her home life and had reassured her many a time that he wanted to help in any way, he had become her closest confident.

She hadn't thought that they could get any closer, but apparently she had been wrong.

Looking down, Karin sighed, "Fine."

"Good cause I'm just about beat," Kazune immediately replied back letting go of Karin and falling back sprawled out on the floor.

"Really?" she asked anxiously.

Kazune tilted his head up slightly and smiled, "Yeah, you've really improved."

Karin just smiled knowing that if Kazune said it then it had to be true. Finally, working out every morning and training with Kazune 24/7 was finally paying off.

However, when the bell suddenly rang signaling five minutes till class, any kind of fulfillment disappeared in an instant. "We're gonna be late!" Karin exclaimed as both jumped to their feet and ran to their corresponding locker rooms to change and get their supplies for the day.

"So why were you two late to class this morning?" Micchi asked as he got out his lunch and began eating immediately.

Karin and Kazune shared a quick look and then turned back to their friends already knowing exactly what to say. "I was just tutoring Karin a bit in the library and we lost track of time," Kazune said.

Everyone nodded understanding as they situated themselves in different seats in the classroom so that they would eat their lunch comfortably.

"But then why were you both practically drenched in sweat?" Micchi asked seemingly innocent, but the small gleam in his eye obviously said otherwise.

"Kazune-kun was making me run laps around the library when I messed up problems in math," Karin said at once as if it was completely normal.

Everyone made horrified faces as Kazune's jaw practically dropped in disbelief. What the hell was she talking about, he never made her do that?!

"Well, that kinda sounds like Kazune-kun," Himeka said softly.

Kazune's head whipped toward his cousin, she didn't really think he would make someone run laps for missing math problems. "I did no such thing!"

"Even I have to admit that it wouldn't be beyond Kazune to do something like that," Yukki said thoughtful.

"What!" Kazune exclaimed looking at his best friend. "You don't actually believe that I – that I- that," Kazune couldn't even seem to finish his sentence he was so flustered.

In the end, the whole topic was forgotten as the group of friends broke out in a fit of laughter.

"So you guys ready for Friday?" Miyon asked as the group finally settled down.

Looking at each other in confusion, it was apparent that Miyon seemed to be the only one who knew just what was happening Friday.

"Oh come on guys, the carnival!" Miyon giggled, "We all agreed to go together this Friday."

Karin had a sinking feeling in her stomach, she knew that there was no way her Mom was going to let her go to the carnival. Now that it was practically spring, things were on a tight schedule and by no means was Karin going to get out of anything. Plus, lately it seemed that any time she could, her mom was making her stay away from her friends. She could only guess it was because she had been spending so much time with Kazune "studying."

"Karin!" Miyon suddenly screamed in her ear effectively getting her attention. "What about you, do you think you can come?"

"I don't think so," she admitted looking down at her half eaten sandwich. "My Mom has me really busy."

Shrugging, everyone went right back to talking about what they were most excited for at the carnival. To the untrained eye, Karin seemed to be enthusiastically into the conversation. Kazune was the only one to notice that her smile didn't come all the way to her eyes.

"Over here you guys!" Miyon shouted as she waved her arms enthusiastically trying to get Kazune and Himeka's attention.

Quickly, the two of them joined the rest of their friends. Now that everyone who was coming was there, they all made their way to buy their tickets and get in line to enter the carnival.

Things were normal, it was just the way it usually was with the group. Kazune staying pretty silent, Ami, Miyon, and Yuuki were all discussing something random with Himeka quietly putting her two cents in every once in a while, and Micchi listened while randomly hanging on different people.

All in all, things felt normal for Kazune, at least until they got into the actual carnival. He quickly looked over his shoulder to see what Karin's response to the bright lights and big rides would be, only to remember that she wasn't there.

After that, things just got increasingly awkward for Kazune. He hadn't realized just how close Karin and him had gotten lately. Everything he ever wanted to say, he wanted to tell her. Every ride he went on he wanted to see her reaction. He missed how she normally would chat to him whether there was something to say or not. He felt as if something was missing. She was missing.

"Hey you okay Kazune?" Yuuki suddenly asked him only after a couple of hours of rides and games.

"Yeah, I'm fine," he replied gruffly not liking how strange everything felt without Karin around. He hadn't had her for years, why now did he miss having her near so much?

"Ooooh!" Ami suddenly squealed. "Let's go on that one!" she said pointing to the largest rollercoaster in the park.

Kazune made a face, everyone had made this whole carnival thing sound really exciting and it was, but for some reason he just wasn't feeling it. "I think I'm going to go and get something to eat, you guys go on ahead," he said just wanting to get away for a while, figure out why he felt so restless, why he couldn't just kick back and enjoy himself. Without another word, he turned and walked away heading toward the vender section of the fair.

He could apologize later to the group about his sudden social ineptitude, but for the moment he just wanted to find a place to sit and think in peace. The sooner he figured this out, the sooner he could get on with his life.

Not even bothering to get something to eat, Kazune found an empty picnic table and sat down folding his arms on the table and letting his head rest on them like a pillow. Strangely, now that he had time to think, nothing came to mind.

"Thinking about something?" he heard Micchi ask as he took a seat next to him. Kazune started to sit up, knowing that if Nishidori followed him than obviously he wanted to talk about something.

However, Micchi surprised him slightly by waving his hands out in front of him and saying "Don't get up on my account."

Shrugging, Kazune let his head flop back between his folded arms. For a moment, the two sat in silence just enjoying the atmosphere of everything that surrounded them. However, Kazune was restless and even though he didn't want to talk, he found himself asking Micchi a question.

"What do you want?" It was muffled seeing as he hadn't even bothered to sit up to ask it, but all the same, Micchi heard him loud and clear.

Smiling, he answered, "Well, there are a lot of things I want, for now I would like some food, to go on the biggest ride in the park, to ride on the fairs wheel with Amy. But perhaps you mean in a more general sense, and in that case I would like world peace, for my friends to keep in touch when we all go to college, and most importantly, for people to realize when they are head over their heels in love."

Kazune turned his head to glare at Micchi, "You know what I mean, why are you here?"

"Well, that's a very good question, one that's never been answered really. I mean, why are we all here on this planet? What is the true meaning to life? What is our purpo-"

"Nishidori!" Seeing Kazune's eyes practically on fire, Micchi decided it was time to get straight to the point.

"Okay fine, I came to talk because the ride only seated pairs and so someone couldn't ride."

Kazune immediately felt guilty, he hadn't been thinking, and that wasn't like him, "Sorry."

"It's cool, I didn't want to go on it that badly and knowing the girls, they'll probably want us to go on it again anyway," Micchi responded finally looking away from Kazune and at all the people that surrounded them.

The carnival wasn't all that large, and therefore it was packed with people from all over town. People were smiling, laughing, eating, and just hanging out with their friends, but one thing in common with them all was that they all were happy. Something about the carnival just did that to people… except Kazune, Micchi took notice of.

"You're in love with her," he said finally breaking the silence between the two of them.

Kazune didn't even have to ask who Micchi was referring to. "I'm not."

Micchi let out a halfhearted laugh, "Yeah you are, that's why you're all pouty, because she couldn't come with us."

"I am not being pouty," Kazune said finally raising his head up.

"Yeah you are, but it's alright Kazune-kun. We all love you anyway, especially Karin, and you should tell her that you love her too," Micchi said with a small twinkle in his eye.

"You make no sense," Kazune said shaking his head eyes closed and feeling even more confused than before. "First off, I don't like Karin that way and she doesn't like me like that either."

Micchi tried to put his two cents in, but Kazune cut him off, "Secondly, even if I did like her like that, it wouldn't matter because she's already having her wedding being arranged as we speak. And thirdly, what in bloody hell is wrong with you!"

Seeing Micchi's baffled face, Kazune just sighed trying to calm himself down before explaining. "Look, just a couple of weeks ago you were telling me to be careful and not fall for Karin, and now you're cheering me on to go after her as if it were destiny for us to be together or something."

"Well, I hadn't thought of it that way, but I suppose in a sense you are correct."

"Nishidori!" Kazune snapped.

Tilting his head slightly to the side, Micchi just smiled, "I just want what's best for Karin, and I'm starting to think that it's you."

Kazune hadn't even heard the end of Micchi's sentence though as an idea suddenly sprang into his mind at the thought of what was 'best for Karin.' He felt like an idiot for not thinking of it sooner, he really needed to stop being so slow sometimes.

"Kazune-kun?" Micchi asked slightly confused, after all, his friend had been silent for several minutes and it was starting to worry him. Obviously, he wasn't listening anymore to him.

Suddenly, he stood up, "I think it's about time that we got back together with everyone else, don't you?" he asked smiling at Micchi as if everything was perfect.

"Umm sure," and with that, the two headed back into the crowds, one looking very befuddled and the other looking almost smug with himself.

Karin groaned. At this moment, she could not think of a single way her life could get any worse.

Just yesterday all of her friends had gone to the carnival, without her. She understood that they couldn't really wait for her schedule to clear up or something, after all, it never would, and it's not as if she wanted them not to go. But still, all the same it had hurt hearing all about the big day all week and not being able to participate in it.

Then to make matters even better, her Mom had invited over one of her "suitors" last night making the entire evening so annoying in fact that she had finally lost it. She had yelled at her mom, like as loud as she could, in front of other people. Thus landing her being grounded for the rest of the weekend, not that it mattered much seeing as she had no plans because she was supposed to just be working on wedding stuff the entire time.

If anything, being grounded was almost better, she mused, because now that she was confined to just her room, she couldn't work on the wedding anymore, much to her relief. The one good thing.

And what really blows about the whole thing though, was that Karin couldn't even remember exactly what she had said when she had finally let loose on her mom, though she could remember it being quite good. But now that Karin wasn't in the moment, all she knew was that she had mentioned something about being tired of all this wedding stuff, and wanting more freedoms, and something about the boy that was there being a git. (She couldn't forget that part being too proud of herself.)

However, his mother had not agreed with her and therefore in less than five minutes they had left getting rid of one of Karin's potential suitors with them, and while she had been more than thrilled, her mom certainly had not.

For her credit, she hadn't yelled at Karin. Oh no, she was so mad that her face had practically turned purple and then she had just ordered Karin to her room. Knowing when to fight her battles and when not to, Karin did as her mother told her to.

Unfortunately for her, the moment after she had gone into her room, slamming the door in her rage of course, she heard a small click from behind. It didn't take a genius to know that her own mother had just locked her in my room. Karin hadn't even bothered to fight it though, what was the point, as it would just get her into more trouble.

The rest of the night she had sat there bored out of her mind figuring that the next morning her mom would unlock her door and life would go about as normal, well about as normal as it could be. However, things didn't exactly go as she thought they would. (When did they ever?)

The next morning, this morning, her door was not unlocked. She had debated with the idea of yelling for someone to unlock it, but figuring that this meant she didn't have to deal with her mom for a couple hours Karin opted for staying silent.

When one of the many maids that work for my parents brought Karin breakfast it dawned on her that her mom had no plans of letting her out anytime soon. If Karin had to guess, her mom wanted her dad to talk to her about her outburst, and she probably wouldn't unlock the door till he got home from his business trip. Too bad he wasn't going to get home till Tuesday. Karin could only hope that her mom would let her out for school at least.

So here she was daydreaming the day away just lying on her bed staring at the ceiling completely bored. She had already been fed all three of my meals for the day and her dinner plate had even already been taken away, so no one was going to come in her room until tomorrow morning at least.

Karin sighed at a complete loss of what to do. If Kazune-kun was here he'd probably tell her to study with the extra time, but she just didn't feel like it. Already Karin had received several acceptance letters from different colleges, and frankly senioritis was starting to kick in, not that Kazune would let it make much of a difference though.

Suddenly, she heard a small tap. Looking around and seeing nothing Karin shook it off as her imagination. Perhaps she was so bored that she was starting to hear things.

However, when a few seconds later she heard another tap, followed by a short series of beats on her window, Karin realized that her imagination was going anything but crazy. Quickly, she rushed over to the window and opened it, only to find the strangest of sights below her.

"Rapunzel Rapunzel! Let down your hair!" Kazune practically bellowed from the side of the house.

"Shhhh!" Karin responded with looking around frantically worried that someone might hear him. All the same, she couldn't keep a grin from her face.

"Geez, first you tell me I need to learn my fairytales and now that I'm quoting them you shush me. You women make no sense," Kazune said shaking his head in fake disbelief.

Smiling to herself, Karin rolled her eyes and ignored her friend's words, "What on earth are you doing here?" she hissed trying to come across as annoyed but failing when she couldn't force her smile down.

"I'm here to save the princess from her castle," Kazune replied bowing before looking up at Karin expectantly.

She only sighed and leaned on her second story windowsill as she decided to play along. "And how do you expect to do that?"

Hearing the doubt in her voice Kazune could hardly keep from grinning. "Rope," he said simply holding up a bunch of think cord. And before Karin had time to ask any more questions he added, "Catch!" and tossed one end up to the girl.

Surprised, Karin managed to catch the rope but only just barely after fumbling with it a tad. "Kazune-kun!" she declared in a sharp whisper, but he was unaffected. In fact, he was grinning up at her like a fool. "What?"

He shook his head still smiling, "Nothing. Nothing at all." There was no way he was gonna let her know how cute he thought she looked when she was completely flabbergasted.

Confused she furrowed her eyebrows slightly and twisted the end of the rope nervously. "So what am I exactly supposed to do with this?" she asked already knowing what Kazune wanted her to do.

"Tie it to something and climb down, and don't be nervous. With how much you've been working out it should be easy for you to climb down and even if you did fall I'd just catch you."

Karin looked down at the rope in her hands. He made it sound so easy, but he didn't even realize the real problem with this whole plan. Sure talking bad about your parents was one thing, but openly defying them by sneaking out, that was entirely different. Something that she wasn't sure if she could do yet. "Kazune-kun," she said hardly audible to him.

He could sense her discomfort, and he didn't like it. Karin wasn't exactly the sort to hesitate. She did something, or she didn't. Obviously something about this situation was making her uncomfortable, if only he could figure out what.

"Look, we're not gonna be gone that long. I just have a surprise for you. Promise you'll enjoy it too. We'll be back before midnight too," he said trying to think of anything that could convince her to come along. Then he heard exactly what he needed to hear.

She was laughing. "Back before midnight, now you really are starting to sound like a fairytale."

Kazune smiled thinking of another argument, "That's what tonight will be for you, a fairytale. No worries, just surprises. How does that sound Karin?"

She had to admit it sounded good. Really good. "Alright alright just let me find something," she said walking back into her room and tying her end of the rope to one of her bed posts. She was nervous about doing something like this, but at the same time she knew Kazune wasn't gonna get her into any trouble while they were out. He wasn't that type.

Her stomach did a little flip, though from nerves or anticipation she didn't know. Fact was, Kazune have never done something like this, sneaking onto her property and convincing her to run away with him, even if it was just for the night. It was thrilling, and she knew that if it had been anyone else, she could have easily said no. But Kazune, she didn't stand a chance arguing against, not that she would even want to go against him.

She was in deep, she realized making sure that the rope was tied extra tight. She was setting herself up for heartbreak, and she knew it. If she was smart, she would be distancing herself from her friend, not sneaking out of her house with him. But quite frankly, Karin found herself not being able to care too much.

"And you might not want to wear a skirt," Kazune called up to her as she cringed slightly at how loud his voice was. Did he not get that sneaking out meant being quiet?

She rushed back over to the window, "I know I know," she said already sticking her leg out the window. "I wouldn't want you to look up my skirt as I climbed down," she laughed thanking that she was wearing jeans and a simple light pink tank top.

Kazune blushed, although Karin didn't see the reaction. She refused to look down as she climbed down quickly. In fact, she just closed her eyes not wanting to lose her confidence and fall. The only problem with this theory is that once she actually hit the ground, she was surprised not having realized she was that close to it, and in response her knees buckled slightly and she began to stumble. Began, being the key word, because next thing she knew Kazune's arm was around her holding her up.

"Whoa there, careful. You okay?" he asked holding her steady for a moment.

Karin was no longer certain if her head spinning was because of being on solid ground again, or just her proximity to Kazune. "Yeah, I'm fine," she managed to say without sounding too shaken.

"Well, in that case," Kazune let go slowly letting his fingertips slide down her arms perhaps a moment too long; Karin resisted the urge to shiver. He turned away to hide the slight flush in his cheeks. "The no skirt rule actually is for a different reason than what you thought."

"What's it for then?" She asked.

He flashed her a quick grin before grabbing her hand in his own, "You'll see," and with that he began running with her away from her house.

So, seems like nothing happened in this chapter really because well it was supposed to be soooooo much longer but then I figured out a way to split it into two chapters with a different fairytale next chapter. That's actually why it's so short compared to most of my chapters. Hope you all enjoyed. Next fairytale will be Aladdin. (Perhaps it's not really a fairytale but whatever, at this point you guys get the idea of what I'm trying to do.)