Chapter Eleven
—You Know—

Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEE-

A sleep laden hand fell onto the clock's alarm switch, effectively silencing it. There was a rustle beneath the bed covers as a girl shifted beneath them tentatively before finally pushing them aside and sitting herself up. The headboard dug into her body as she leaned against it, but this didn't bother her. The soft thudding noise that sounded through the air when her head fell backwards also didn't bother her, nor was she bothered by the slight twinge she felt when it hit the wall.

Anything was fine as long as it helped her wake up.

This wasn't normal. Normally, the schoolgirl was able to sleep well, or at least good enough to be healthy and alert during school hours. She would shut her alarm clock off at seven o'clock every morning, get up, get ready and be out the door by seven-thirty. She'd arrive at school by eight, giving her a good half-hour before classes began. But this wasn't normal. It had taken her forever to fall asleep, and even then she was restless, waking up repeatedly throughout the night.

The reason for her condition was obvious enough. She had been very busy yesterday, helping her classmate around town until late at night. By the time the girl made it to bed the clock was showing single digits. Huddling beneath her blankets, she tried to keep still and waited for sleep to come despite knowing full well that it was the beat of her heart keeping it away.

Why would one's heart pound so restlessly inside of an exhausted body? The reason for this was…also obvious.

The girl's thoughts fled to her alarm clock evasively, her eyes following suit. Seven-ten. She should be getting dressed and making her lunch. There was still time. If she got up now, she could make it to school at the usual time without having to run. She'd put herself together while the food was cooking, although that risked burning something. Then she'd back her bag, double-check that she had money for the vending machine, and…

Akina fell sideways and buried her face in a mess of sheets.

It was eight-thirty in the morning, and the homeroom teacher of class 2-B was going through the attendance sheet per the usual routine, checking off the names of those who were present as he went down the list.

"Aisaka-san?" the middle aged man looked briefly towards the far left of the room, where the girl named Aisaka had her hand raised. "Arai-kun?"

"Here!" the boy called out.

"Jonouchi-kun?"

...

When answered with silence, the teacher was forced to look up from his attendance sheet to see that the desk belonging to Jonouchi Katsuya was empty. "Jonouchi-kun…? Has he not arrived yet?"

When the rest of the class gave a collective mumble to confirm this, the man at the front nodded and tentatively marked the missing student as late. Although he wasn't always on time, it was quite rare for this particular boy to skip class altogether. With this decided, the teacher continued on. "Ah, let me see…Katou-san?"

"Here!"

"Kidono-san?"

...Again, there was silence.

"Oh my…is the class representative missing too?" the teacher straightened his glasses at the sight of Akina's barren desk. "How unusual…"

Just as he was about to mark her as late, the door slid open to reveal the class representative herself, Kidono Akina. The schoolgirl was red-faced and breathing heavily, but with her teacher and fellow classmates staring at her expectantly, she managed to pass the threshold in a composed manner.

"I'm sorry for being late, sensei!" she apologized with a quick bow of her head.

"Well, as long as you're here now…" the teacher looked back at his attendance sheet. "The bell rang already, but I'm still in the middle of attendance, so I won't mark you late just this once…" he smiled a little before turning his words into a question. "You didn't happen to spot Jonouchi-kun on your way here, did you?"

The girl paused in walking to her seat. "…Jonouchi-kun?"

As her royal blue eyes drifted to where the boy would normally be at this hour, Kidono's expression changed to something soft and fretful. The man at the front looked at her again, curious as to what it meant. "He seems to be running late as well" he explained, although the absence of that striking blonde hair was clear enough already. "I do hope he comes along shortly"

"O-oh…" Akina's uncharacteristic stammer left her mouth just as she raised a hand to cover it. "I…Jonouchi-kun won't be coming in today, sensei…"

"Oh?" the teacher's surprise was clear. "Is he sick? I don't believe the office has been notified-"

"No, um…he isn't sick but…" the girl looked down as she thought about what to say. "I…I was having Jonouchi-kun help me after class on Saturday, and then…he tripped on the stairs and sprained his ankle badly. The doctor said that he should stay home for a few days while it healed, and since his father is away right now, Jonouchi-kun asked me to tell you…" Akina took a seat at her desk as she wrapped up her lie neatly.

"I see…" if the teacher recognized her deceit, he gave no sign of it. "Thank you for letting me know, Kidono-san. Absence due to injury, then…" he wrote an appropriate note while changing Jonouchi Katsuya's late status to an absence. "Well, it's a shame that he has to stay home, but I'm glad he isn't merely skipping for the fun of it. Midterms will be starting soon, after all. You will be third-year students next year- it's important that you get into the habit of studying sooner rather than later!"

Akina's mouth quirked upwards as several of her classmates let out groans of dread at the mention of upcoming exams. Had a certain blonde been present, he definitely would have been amongst them. But the moment this thought entered her mind, her smile faded, and Akina found herself turning to look at a boy who wasn't there.

Exams, huh…

Compared to us, though…Jonouchi-kun has much more to worry about…

After getting lost in her thoughts concerning Jonouchi Katsuya, Akina was surprised to find that the morning classes had come and gone without her managing to take a single note. As the lunchtime bell chimed through the air, the three girls that she normally sat with gathered around her desk for an hour of their usual gossip.

"Ki~do~no~" one of them called out in a sing-song manner. "I've got some gyoza with me today! Want to trade anything for it?"

"Ah!" the class representative jumped a little at hearing her name. "G-gyoza? Um, sure, let me see what I…have…"

As she began digging through her book bag in search of her bento box, the schoolgirl realized that she couldn't even remember what she had for lunch today, which was shortly followed by another revelation- one that was altogether more upsetting.

To her embarrassment, Akina had slept in that morning. After waking up a little after eight, she managed to throw herself together and pack her books before running out the door with little time to spare even then. There had been absolutely no time to prepare anything for lunch.

"…Um…" Kidono pulled her empty hand out from within the bag and looked up at the girl apologetically. "Sorry…I actually forgot to bring a lunch with me today…"

"Eeeh!" it was not just the one classmate who made this noise of surprise, but all three of them.

"That's not like you, Kidono-san!" one of them told her.

"That's right!" another insisted.

Akina felt an urge to tell them that they probably had no idea what was really 'like her' at all, but she fought it down while reminding herself that they weren't the ones at fault for that. Instead, she just smiled politely.

"I suppose I'll go buy something from the cafeteria…"

The other girls looked down at her solemnly upon hearing this, as though she had just admitted defeat to something. Ignoring their unnecessary looks of pity, the blue eyed girl reached into her bag once again with the intent of retrieving her wallet.

…Which was not there.

Careful to not let the panic she was feeling show on her face, Akina slid her other hand over to her skirt pocket and gave it a feel. Nestled inside of it were a number of coins which she would normally use to buy herself juice. Good- she had forgotten food and her wallet, but at least she had some amount of money.

"I'll be back soon" Kidono told her lunchtime group as she stood up to leave. "You three can start without me"

They seemed to be pleased with the go-ahead. Akina could hear their girlish chatter staring up before she had even made it out the door.

It wasn't very often that she visited the cafeteria. Although the schoolgirl had become more open to socializing with her classmates after entering high school, she still disliked dealing with the large crowds that gathered there every lunch hour. Even when she went to purchase her usual strawberry-kiwi drink, it was always from a vending machine stationed in the nearest hallway.

Now standing in a place she would rather avoid, Kidono Akina stared up at the menu board in dismay while numerous people bumped into her from all sides.

"After not coming here for so long, of course I'd forget the prices…" she gave the small amount of change in her hand a squeeze. "Never mind Katsudon or curry, I don't even have enough money for bread…!"

And the nearest convenience store was fifteen minutes away. She could run there, but even then, her only options would be chips or candy, and that hardly seemed worth the effort after her earlier workout.

Akina's stomach grumbled impatiently. She rubbed at her midsection as if to console it before deciding that the usual can of juice would have to do. Traveling back to towards her classroom, the girl stopped at one of the vending machines she frequented and bought a can of strawberry-kiwi punch as she did every other day. In an eager attempt to satisfy she broke open the seal and took a large gulp of the cool drink, only to start chocking immediately afterwards. The sweet liquid that was normally so pleasant to her taste buds now seemed almost painful as it clung stickily to the inner walls of her throat, bringing about a wave of violent coughs that wracked her body for several minutes.

When she finally stopped hacking, Kidono felt her stomach give an agonizing twist from within and grimaced at the sickly sweet substance she had just tried to ingest. The girl had never been so hungry when drinking it before, but it was clear to her now that it was not something to be had on an empty stomach.

She regarded the object in her hands with a sour look as her breathing evened out. "…Its no wonder he didn't want to drink this, back then…" and there was no way she could drink the rest now.

The class representative had already been feeling weary from a lack of sleep since earlier that day- now she had to put up with hunger pains, and a growing sense of nausea on top of that. She clearly wasn't in good form after failing to take any notes for her morning classes, and most of all, she was feeling very reluctant to rejoin the other girls empty-handed.

With all this in mind, Kidono Akina went to the nurse's office for the first time that year and laid herself down to rest on one of the beds. She wasn't entirely sure, but she thought it might have been the one Jonouchi-kun had used a number of weeks back. The girl's eyes fell shut as she wondered about it, and was quickly taken by sleep.

When she reopened her eyes, the first thing Akina noticed was echoing sound of the evening bell. Classes were over, and many of the students had already gone home for the day.

Although she was still feeling groggy from sleeping for so long, the girl managed to force herself to sit up and push the covers of the bed aside. It wouldn't do any good to continue sleeping, she reasoned. I have to eat something. I need to take a shower, do my homework…

More than anything, though, she wanted to get home before it got too dark. It had been a long time since her frightening experience in the alleyway, but the memory of it was still fresh in her mind.

And with his limp, Jonouchi-kun wouldn't be able to save me if something happened now…not that I expected him to save me the first time, or that there would even be a first time, but…

The schoolgirl mulled over this as she made her way to the locker area, her mind still clouded with sleep and thoughts about the blonde boy who was currently at sitting at home, injured. Was he feeling any better? Would he be able to change the bandage by himself properly? Should she go check on him…?

But if she went to see him…

Akina slipped on her outdoor shoes with brightened cheeks. "The next time I see him…I wonder what he'll say to me…"

"Like I keep saying, why? I won't be able to pay you back, so why? I don't get it!"

Royal blue eyes squeezed shut in embarrassment as his demand for an answer echoed in her head. If she didn't give him a proper reason for her meddling, Jonouchi-kun would probably come to hate her just like Katsura-san said. At the time, this was the only thing she could think of amidst her desire to help him, so she decided to be brave and express her feelings as clearly as she knew how…

…But looking back on it now, suddenly kissing him might have been a little-

Akina's musings came to an abrupt halt when a hand slammed down on the locker next to hers. The class representative froze, the painful events of so many weeks ago flashing through her head like a signal flare. Although her mind was racing, she managed to keep a calm exterior as she tilted her head to see who had invaded her personal space, and for what purpose.

Schoolbag in hand, the girl tightened her grip on the leathery handle as if it were a sword hilt.

Standing behind her was a boy with spiky red hair and a blonde fringe that darted over his face like lightning bolts. His person was adorned with blue leather and silvery belt buckles beneath the regular Domino high uniform, and a pyramid-shaped pendant hung around his neck on a thin cord. With such a remarkable appearance, it would be impossible for her to not recognize him.

"Mu...Mutou…kun…isn't it…?" Akina asked with uncertainty, for she truly could not believe that this person was the same cheerful boy she saw laughing alongside Jonouchi-kun so often. And yet it had to be him, because there was no one else who matched that description so perfectly. "Did you…need something…?"

Yuugi Mutou was one of Jonouchi-kun's good friends, and had come to be somewhat infamous amongst the students of Domnino high since his enrollment a year prior. He was fairly short compared to the others in his grade, Akina included, and yet she couldn't shake the feeling that he was looming over her- staring downwards with a pair of hard, cold eyes that shot into her body like crimson bullets.

The long silence between them was making her so very uncomfortable, but Kidono did not dare look away. "If…if there's nothing, then I-"

"I saw you yesterday, Kidono-san"

Mutou's voice came out sounding calm and tranquil, but his choice in words made it clear that there was nothing good beneath the surface.

"Y…Yesterday…" feeling both confused and disturbed by this strange ambush, Akina could do little more than shrink away. "What are you talking about...?"

The boy's presence seemed to grow more sinister with every passing second, and Kidono could now feel her legs starting to quiver as his eyes narrowed dangerously. "Yesterday, at the hospital. With Jonouchi-kun"

Shock spread across her face before she could stop it, and by then it was too late. Yuugi's mouth twisted into a small smile that made him look all the more intimidating. "Why is he absent today? I'm sure it has something to do with the limp he had. Tell me about that- how did he get hurt?" he took a moment to chuckle, although to her ears it sounded more like a growl. "And don't say he fell down the stairs"

"…I don't know" Akina said after a moment. It was the truth, really. "He just asked me to help, so I did"

"You didn't ask any questions?" with a tilt of his head, he added, "Jonouchi-kun didn't tell you anything at all while you were together?"

"That's right…!" this time, it was a lie.

The boy leaning over her seemed to be able to tell as much. "Please just answer me honestly, Kidono-san" he advised her in a husky tone. "It will be easier if you do"

Easier for him, or for her? The question made the girl feel even more uneasy. This wasn't good. It was bad. The person in front of her was…dangerous. He would definitely do something to her if she didn't say what he wanted to hear- that's what the fearful voice inside her head was screaming out.

"You've helped me this much, so you might as well know why I'm in trouble. Just don't tell Yuugi or my other friends, alright? I…don't want them to worry…"

Wh…what should I do? Akina felt alarm take hold of her as she remembered the sad request Katsuya had whispered to her as she hugged him to her chest. I promised I wouldn't say anything, but I…I'm scared!

I'm really scared, Jonouchi-kun!

"I- I-" Akina stumbled back against the lockers when the strings of tension holding her there finally snapped. "I have to go!" the girl cried as she tried to run.

Mutou was quick to cut off her route of escape when his open palm collided with the lockers next to her face. The force he used was greater compared to when he had done the same thing minutes ago, and now she was trapped from all angles- the boy's arms caged her on either side, a wall of cold metal pressed against her back, and Yuugi's face was mere inches from her own.

"You know what Jonouchi-kun is hiding, don't you?" he glowered fiercely. "Speak!"

It came to her again- teeth sinking painfully into her flash, the sound of her underwear tearing, the taste of gritty fingers in her mouth-

"...He- he asked me not to tell you!" she heard herself whimper, as though someone else was talking. "He didn't w-want you to worry- I p-promised…!"

The class representative didn't notice that she was crying until the boy drew back slightly, and she had to blink her vision to clarity before finding that his expression had softened slightly. It made Akina relax, if only a little.

"That's very like him"

Mutou smiled again as he spoke, but this time it was warm and genuine. After a beat, Kidono managed to nod. Her throat had closed completely, and even if she could speak, she didn't know what to say now. To her great relief, the boy let his arms drop to his sides before taking a few steps back. Akina slumped against the lockers heavily in turn, for she could still feel the weight of his gaze pressing down on her.

"Shall we continue talking elsewhere, Kidono-san?" a dark shadow fell over Yuugi Mutou's face as the sun started to slip below the horizon. "I won't tell Jonouchi-kun about it if you don't"

Uwaaah…an update...!

This was really an Akina chapter, wasn't it? Jonouchi didn't get a single scene! But in exchange I gave Yuugi a bigger role- or should I say Yami Yuugi? That's right- he was the one Katsuya thought he saw watching them when they were leaving the hospital! It was only a matter of time before he found out! Are you all excited to see what he'll do next chapter? I am! I'm very excited, mostly because there are only a few more chapters left before this story is COMPLETE!

Haaa…well, that's everything that I wanted to say. Once again, I hope the readers have enjoyed this chapter, and see you next time!