Wheezy: Back again...
Tsurugi: There are no reviews for your story...
Wheezy: It's okay! I'm sure things will work out!
Tenma: That's my line!
Wheezy: So? I will use it... My wish... *sticks tongue out.
Shindou: Who will do the disclaimer?
Wheezy: Ran-san!
Kirino: Fine! Wheezy-chan doesn't own us… Just this story…
Wheezy: Thank you, Ran-san! I'll make cake for you tonight!
Shindou, Tenma, Tsurugi: What about us!
Wheezy: You people are kids! I'll make for you too…
Tenma: Wheezy is awesome… *smiles
Tsurugi's POV:
"Take me... All you need Tenma is for sex, right? If that's so, you can..." I closed my eyes, let out a breath and opened them to stare into his red orbs, "you can use me," I finished.
"Funny, this coming from you," he chuckled.
"What do you mean by that?" I queried.
He moved closer to me and I bit down the urge to take a step back to maintain my personal space because if I had to free Tenma, I have to prove that I can endure this. So, I will. I never noticed it till now that he was taller than me and I had to look up at him when he was close... He was intimidating and I was not one who would go down easily.
"You were the one who abandoned Tenma-kun and now you're here, offering yourself to me, for his freedom. That's funny," he pointed out.
"It was because of you!" I accused.
"The Tenma-kun your eyes made you see was a hologram. Not just any, it's a perfectly advanced one with physical and mental abilities equal to that of a normal human. The same happened with Shindou-kun, Endou-san and Hikaru," he said.
"Why didn't you bring the others?" I asked, making my meaning clear.
"I brought only those who weren't holograms."
"That means the Minamisawa-san who Kirino-senpai saw, wasn't the true one?"
"No, not him, not Shindou-kun. Both of them were holograms and the same goes with Hikaru," he replied.
"You!" I was angry and prepared myself to punch him right in the face and he swiftly held my wrist with his hand, when I was about to connect it to his bloody face.
"If you want Tenma's freedom and safety, you better learn to behave," he warned, effectively putting a stop to my outer struggles and anger.
"Fine!" I said, composing myself.
"That's not a way to apologize..."
"Oh, crap! I'm sorry! Happy now?"
"Better... Go back to your friends for the last time. If I were you, I wouldn't miss this last opportunity to talk to my loved one. I'll be back after making the arrangements. Okay?"
"Yeah," I replied.
"And, before you go, give me a kiss," he said and I weighed my options - to comply or to refuse? I felt it best if I complied for now. He tasted like honey as I disinterestedly kissed him for about ten seconds.
"You could do better... You taught Tenma-kun, which means you ought to have better skill..." he remarked.
"That's reserved only for Tenma... It's him or none," I replied.
"Let's see about that, Kyousuke-kun. Be ready," he replied and left.
That was really super gross. I need to wash away this stupid yet sweet taste. He would surely 'contaminate' me in the following two days and I can't do anything about that. This, I could do now. So, I rushed to the bathroom, ignoring the calls of Shindou-senpai and Endou-san. I washed my mouth with my left as my right one was bandaged. I looked at myself in the mirror.
"You can do this. Things will surely work out..." I said to my reflection in the mirror.
I hate to admit it or show that I am scared. No one knows the real me. For those who see me, I'm a carefree badass who doesn't feel anything. I'm not a robot, right? Right now, I'm scared deep inside and my face still looks the same - feeling less... What a pity!
"Tsurugi!" I heard Fei's voice and looked at the door.
"What is it?" I asked coldly.
"I saw you with Hayashi. Care to explain?"
"Not your business... Get out!"
"I knew he was after you, or atleast I thought so from the beginning."
"What do you want to say?!"
"El Dorado went on a mission to save people like me, the second stage children. At that time, apart from Feida, there was another group of abandoned children at Shinigami. They called themselves the children of God. Their existence came to light when they started similar attacks like us. My dad and I, along with the El Dorado heads, started to investigate about them. They were no different from the second stage children in power... The only difference was that they had a life span equal to that of normal humans. They felt that they were gifted and a few weeks ago, they claimed themselves to be the children of God who are created to rule the world... "
"If that is so, they have more power than me, right?"
"That's where you're mistaken, Tsurugi... The beast inside you, the soul, has awakened, giving you a power beyond that they possess... Hayashi, I suspect, wants that power of your soul to raise a mini army for himself."
"Why me? Shindou-senpai has a soul and Tenma does too..."
"As far as I know, you're stronger than those two. Tenma has will power. I'm not talking about that. I'm referring to the physical strength here. Of all those present here, you possess a power that is above the power the Shinigami possess. Do you get it now?"
"Hayashi wants to use my soul... He wants me to be his apprentice?"
"Yeah, that's the reason. He knew that the only way to get to you was through Tenma. So, he lured Tenma into killing himself. He was the one who informed Shindou-san about Tenma so that he could be saved. That rose guilt in you and you decided to do anything in your strength to make it up to him. Tenma was the bait to lure you in and now, you're trapped."
"That bastard! I will rip out his insides!"
"You can't do anything now, Tsurugi. Just make sure you don't give in your soul's strength to him. He will use your... Body... So as to weaken your resolve. I warn you, don't give in. Got that?"
"Yeah and you make sure to win this match or else I will end up being his slave forever!" I said and he chuckled.
"I never knew Tsurugi had complaints too," he mused.
"Sh- shut up!"
"Will you tell everyone?" Fei asked.
"He said he would come after a while. They will know then. For now, don't tell anyone. Got that?"
"As you wish. You should go talk to Tenma."
"I know. Train well and win," I wished in the best possible way.
"Yeah, that we'll do for our friend!" He exclaimed.
I nodded and headed to talk to Tenma. When I came out of the bathroom, I saw Kariya apologizing to Hikaru through the force field, asking for a chance to make things right. Hikaru happily agreed and I really wished that would be the case with me and Tenma too.
"Hey, where's Tenma?" I asked him.
"In Taiyou's room," Kariya replied.
Room? There were only lockers here. What room is he talking about?
"New facilities sprouted a while ago... Everyone has got a room. They are to the right of the club room," he answered, as if reading my thoughts.
I muttered a silent thanks to him as I found my way to Taiyou's room. There was a door plate, just like in the hospital, that read Taiyou's name. I knocked the door and heard a faint 'come in' from the other side. I opened the door to see Tenma resting on the bed... Beside Taiyou! Seeing me, Taiyou got up fron his position and stood. So, did Tenma, but he sat up, resting against the headboard. What the hell? Why were they sleeping together! No, I shouldn't ask that... again... I'm not a fool to make the same mistake twice.
"Tenma, I need to talk to you..."
"What is it?" he asked.
"It's private," I emphasized.
"Taiyou can stay," he replied when Taiyou was about to leave.
"No, he can't. I said it's private. Please!" I was 'this' close to begging because I hadn't got much time. It's now or never!
"Fine... Taiyou?" Tenma looked at him, leaving the rest of the question unspoken.
"I'll be back later," he said and left.
I locked the door to avoid any other interruption. I sat down beside Tenma, on the bed and he scuttled away from me. I let out a sigh.
"Won't you ever forgive me, Tenma?"
"I don't know, Tsurugi... I loved you, more than anything else and you..." He clenched his fists.
"I know... I was wrong. Shindou-senpai and Hikaru forgave their boyfriends. They are happy. I want another chance to be happy... With you," I added the last part, holding his clenched fist gently with my unhurt palm.
"They were not molested by their boyfriends, like me. They weren't left naked on a public road, by their boyfriends, with nothing to cover their bodies with, like me. Never in their relation, they were dominated, like me. You never listened to my opinions. Our relation was always about YOU, not me, not us!" He screamed at me, looking into my eyes as he cried.
Yes, he was absolutely right! But... One chance...
"Please, Tenma... I know I've been very harsh. Give me one chance to keep you happy... Please!" I begged now.
"No, Tsurugi... I can't be happy with you anymore..." He said and what could I say to that?
He said he CAN'T be happy with ME... Is it right to hold on or should I let him go? I don't want to let him go...
"Taiyou proposed to me a while ago, in front of the whole club. You weren't there then."
"What?! How could he!" I gritted my teeth in anger, leaving hold of Tenma's fist.
"Why shouldn't he? I said I would think about it. The others are happy too... They said we would make a good pair. Shindou-san is happy for me as I got a person like Taiyou who would actually listen to my wishes instead of forcing his' on me. They are persuading me to say yes to Taiyou," he said, looking at his palms.
If he looked at me, he would surely be able to see my tears that I refused to shed. I clenched my fists and I could feel my wound reopen and dampening the dressing on it. I decided to take a last chance.
"Tema, I love you!" I croaked out through the lump in my throat.
"No, Tsurugi... It's over now. You've done damage which is irreparable. It's your choice... You can accept my relation with Taiyou happily and be my good friend. You can accept grudgingly and be my team mate. Either way, we're never getting back together..." he declared.
What could I say to that? I can't accept his relation with Taiyou... I want Tenma to be my lover and he made it clear that would never happen. Why is this happening? Was I that bad to him? He has a big heart, right? Why can't he forgive me? I don't want to be his team mate or a good friend. I want to be his only one!
I stood up, leaving the choice to him. I couldn't look him in the eye and say what I was about to say lest I should break down because of his gaze. I had my back to him as I spoke.
"Good luck, Tenma," I said and without giving a chance for him to reply, I marched out.
I was truly alone now. If only there was someone, apart from nii-san... I thought so as tears unwillingly rolled down my eyes. Yes... Kirino-senpai! The week I was with him, made me trust him to some extent. I barged into his room without even bothering to knock. He jumped and turned towards me.
"Tsurugi! Why are you... crying?!" He exclaimed.
I broke down as I poured out my feelings, to the best I could. After the little emo session, he gave me a glass of water to drink.
"Thanks, senpai! I feel good..."
"You can always count on me..."
DEAR RAIMON ELEVEN... I REQUEST YOU TO COMMENCE AT THE CLUB ROOM TO SEND OFF A MEMBER OF YOUR TEAM. SO, GET READY, FOLKS...
We heard Hayashi's voice.
"We need to be strong for Tenma right now," Kirino-senpai said as he didn't know that I was the one who is being taken.
We headed out to the club room and Kirino-senpai immediately went to Shindou-senpai. I stood to a corner. Tenma wasn't here yet. Maybe he was afraid... If he knew that I'm the one being taken, he would be here by now...
There he is! He's coming out of the bathroom. Looks like he washed his face. Wait! His eyes are red, probably from crying. Ah! There goes Amemiya to his side. He whispered something to Tenma as he held his palm in his'. Maybe, words of strength. I need such words right now...
Just then the door opened and Hayashi came in...
"Hello, Raimon eleven!" he greeted.
"Oh, come on now! Stop with your fake pleasantries!" Kariya said sarcastically.
"It's rude to not greet my guests..."
"It's rude to torture your guests too..."
"Well, not everyone... Only my special one. Come to me, dear... Let's go to our mansion ad have a great time together!" he announced.
I braced myself to confront my fate. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Amemiya hugging Tenma and saying something to him.
"Be strong, Tsurugi," I heard Fei, as he stood by my side.
"I won't give in, I promise..."
"We'll win this match, I promise..."
"Take care of Tenma."
He nodded his head and that was my cue to move forward. There's no turning back now. I heard my friends call out to me as I moved forth and stood beside Hayashi. I faced them, only to be greeted by their shocked faces. Tenma stopped cowering... That was great... Instead, his face wore a shocked look too, like the others.
"Why are you at his side, Tsurugi?" I heard Kirino-senpai asked me.
"Well... Kyousuke-kun here, made a deal with me. This is a part of that one," he said, looking down at me.
"What deal?" Shindou-senpai asked.
"He offered himself for Tenma's freedom. Right, Kyousuke-kun?" Hayashi asked.
"Ha," I replied without any emotion.
Everyone was too shocked and disturbed to reply. Fei was okay though.
"Time to claim my prize!" Hayashi announced as he took a step towards me.
"Not in front of them..." I pleaded silently, taking a step back.
"Kyousuke-kun is shy... Fine... Let's have that in our room..." he said and he lifted me off the ground, just like he did to Tenma.
"Get ready for the match," he said and snapped his fingers, which resulted in the disintegration of the force field that was around Endou-san and the others.
"Don't forget what I told you!" I heard Fei yell to me as Hayashi carried me out of the room...
This was going to take too much of my sanity... I'll do it for you, Tenma...
I just hope you win the match...
Wheezy: *sitting in an emo corner.
Shindou: What happened to her? *sighs
Kirino: Tsurugi happened.
Shindou: What did you do?
Tsurugi: I just said that her cake is a waste of time right now… *shrugs
Shindou: You're the dumbest person I've even known!
Tenma: Review, readers! We've to get Wheezy out of her emo trance…
Kirino: Yeah… Bye…