A/N: Alright! I've finally finished editing all the chapters! Whooo! (Victory Dance) I know I'm real late in finishing this, but I've been seriously busy with summer school at college and it's been kinda rough. Anyway, I plan on having the first chapter up for the second book at the end of the week. Same updating schedule—every Friday until it's finished. I hope everyone enjoyed this story and are ready for its continuation in The Reality of Being a High School Celebrity!

~Delyth

The Duties of a High School Guitarist

Epilogue

"And so we remained till the red of the dawn began to fall through the snow gloom. I was desolate and afraid, and full of woe and terror. But when that beautiful sun began to climb the horizon life was to me again."—Bram Stoker

"Why are you trying to fight me?" Burning crimson howled in anger as she struggled against his hands. She didn't want this! Why couldn't Isao-kun understand that? They were moving too fast, she didn't want him the way other girls wanted him! She wanted her best friend Isao-kun who encouraged her to go up on stage and perform for the first time. She wanted her best friend who had held her as she cried or teased her relentlessly if she stumbled. This Isao-kun who glared down at her and bruised her wrists wasn't the friend she'd known since her first day of middle school.

Her lips parted in a desperate wail as he shoved her legs open with his knee. She dug her nails into his fingers, her mouth still open in a plea for help only for him to bear down on her scream and claim it as his own. Eyes squeezed shut, Mari could do little to stop him as he placed both of her wrists in one hand while the other trailed down her shirt, unbuttoning it with practiced ease. Tiny bumps rose along her arms and legs, a nauseous feeling churning in her stomach as his nimble fingers pulled the zipper of her skirt down. She kicked and bucked in vain as his tongue forcefully explored her cavern, demanding that she respond back. In reply, she clacked her teeth together and nearly gagged as his blood immediately pooled in her mouth. With a pained shout, Isao released her lips and she coughed and spat out his blood with barely controlled distaste. Sapphire narrowed and she snarled at him wordlessly.

"I was going to be gentle since it was your first time," he murmured dangerously, those unholy eyes threatening to devour her soul, "but if you wish to be rough then so be it."

His hand ripped away her skirt, the only material left that was protecting her innocence. He shoved her legs further apart, straining the muscles and sending pinpricks of pain up her spinal cord, and clenched her wrists so hard that she swore her bones were grinding together. Tears trickled from her eyes as he reached around the headboard for his discarded tie and proceeded to bind her hands together until little blood could reach her fingers. She cried out as his hand shoved aside her bra to squeeze at her breast, the sensation unwelcome and agonizing as he dug his nails in.

Before she could protest anymore by his rough treatment, his teeth latched on to a pink pearl and pulled vigorously. Her scream ascended to the heavens, but were failed to be heard by any heavenly beings as he cupped the center of her heat. She squirmed and desperately wished someone would walk through his damn door and make him stop. Couldn't any of his servants realize that Mari didn't want what he was doing? Why didn't they demand him to quit this incorrigible behavior?

"Isao-kun, what is with all the racket up here?" Round cobalt flashed to the doorframe to see Isao's father taking in the scene with calculating slowness. She opened her mouth to ask him, to plea, for his help, but the CEO merely smiled as if greatly pleased. He smiled. He wasn't appalled or outraged by his son's shameless actions. Rather, he was fucking pleased that Isao was on top of Mari and asserting his claim like some wild fucking animal. Nishiomi-san nodded to his son and met her eyes with a coldness that had her reeling. "Do try and keep it down, son. We wouldn't want anyone to call the police." And with that, her only chance of escape was gone as Nishiomi-san closed the door.

Sobs wheezed passed her lips as a belt rattling loose reached her ears along with the soft brush of pants falling against skin. He didn't even wait as he surged into her, didn't even pause to let her adjust, and proceeded to bask in the glow of her lost virginity. She shrieked as blood pooled underneath them, dyeing the white sheets and her flesh as she writhed pathetically.

God, why did this happen?

His teeth flashed in the darkness and it was the only warning she received before they caught the sensitive skin of her neck. She could barely kick her legs let alone breathe out a yelp as he bit down like some savage dog. More salty tears dripped down her face as he continued to pound into her, and Mari thought surely he would tire soon and leave her be.

How naïve.

Without a warning, steaming heat flooded her womb and she shouted in despair as he filled her. There had to be another reason why she felt something else sticking to her thighs. It couldn't be what she thought it was, could it? He didn't just shoot his sperm into her? Right? He wouldn't want anyone to know that he had gotten her pregnant, right? Right? Isao pushed himself off her and reached up to undo the tight knots binding her hands together. As he did so, all she could think about was running away and burying herself in the nearest hole. Humiliation and fear of what could possibly happen to her in the next month drove her to grab the hunting knife Isao always kept near his bed.

He was speaking to her, reassuring her that everything would be alright, but what a lie that was. Nothing would be alright. He had taken everything from her and destroyed what innocence she had for his own sick pleasure. Why hadn't she seen his true character before? Did she just ignore the signs? Mari didn't know anymore. A suffocating black hole filled her entire being as she brandished the knife and wailed a mourning cry. Bright ruby widened in surprise and mild fear as he caught the blade in his hand, barely halting its descent to his chest. Fury replaced the startled look on his face as he snatched it away from her hand and slashed at her hip.

Just let me die. Anything is better than this.

"Mari?!" Isao's face appeared above her, his eyes wide in horror, and his fingers were brushing away errant tears. "Oi! I'm sorry. God, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean—you had a knife—"

"Let me die," she whispered, bright sapphires dimming as more blood stained her legs and the bed. "You've already ruined me."

"No!"

For the first time since entering Isao's room, Mari smiled. She patted his cheek with a triumphant grin, knowing that it would be a miracle if she survived from the amount of blood loss. There would be no Isao Junior if she had her way.

"Father, call for an ambulance!"

She couldn't hear anymore, her ears felt like cotton balls had been stuffed in them. Everything was muffled, but the sound of her erratic heart. Sapphire jewels slowly dimmed in their luster as fatigue overwhelmed her body and demanded her to sleep. Insistent hands slapped at her cheeks though and refused to allow her rest as she was lifted up to lie on a cold, hard surface. Voices drifted in and out as she was bumped around, something pricked her wrist, and a high-pitched cry pierced through the fog.

I don't want to be saved, can't you see that? I don't want to bring his baby into this world. Let me die!

Suddenly, images of her two sisters crossed over her mind's eye. Memories of happier times spent with them and their parents flooding her with a warmth so powerful that it chased away the nightmarish void. Kyo was laughing at something Ami had done as the little girl tried to race against Mari and failing rather miserably as she stumbled about. Eventually, frustration washed over and Ami sat back with an irritable hiccup that was the only sign before the floodgates were thrown open. Mom went to her youngest side, picking her up and whispering in her ear. She could see Kyo trying to help calm Ami down while Mari and Papa waited off to the side, the two knowing well enough that those two could handle it better than they. As it was, she and Papa were clumsy when it came to words of comfort.

The memory continued, its rich happiness filling Mari with strength that she hadn't realized she really needed nor wanted. As it was, she truly didn't want to die. That was her hurt pride and damaged body speaking. She couldn't leave her sisters like their parents had a few months ago. They needed her now more than ever, and what would they be without her there to help protect them? There would be no one left to look after the two and they would surely end up in an orphanage that wouldn't care if they remained together or not. Mari couldn't let that happen. Just like they depended on her, she depended on them. They had given her reason to smile and laugh despite the agony over their parents' untimely death. If she could survive that then she could damn well survive this, too. Even if it meant bearing a child she didn't want nor need. Her sisters needed her to offer them that stability their parents had always been, and she wasn't about to leave them.

"She's coming back! Thatta girl!" The medic smiled, his eyes gentle and kind as he parted her hair. "Hang in there for a little while more, alright?"

"I…I don't want to see…him." Mari panted, the quivering stream growing into a crashing ocean.

"See who?"

"The one that did this…"

Realization dawned and he nodded, his expression growing dark. "I'll make sure that you are not in contact with him. Now, what's your name? Do you have anyone to call?"

"Himimori…Mari." She stiffened as something cold brushed against her hip, but the kind medic shushed her gently. "I have two sisters, but I don't want them to see me."

"Anyone else, Mari-chan?" He grabbed some gauze for his partner before wrapping his hand around hers.

More tears pricked her eyes, "No, there's no one else."

"Shh, shh, it'll be alright, I promise." He patted her hand and smiled softly. "I'll stay with you until you're ready to see your sisters."

His partner spoke up then, clearly exasperated, "Asaki, you can't just—"

"She doesn't have anyone else to watch over her and I'm not going to leave her."

The woman shook her head with a good-natured smile, "Alright. Do what you want. Mari-chan," she grinned and continued with her work, "you're in good hands, I assure you."

~o~

Mari moaned, her eyelids fluttering weakly against her cheeks as consciousness slowly returned. A sweet, soft lullaby drifted to a stop and the air became still as a rhythmic beeping continued around the room. Her nose twitched as something plastic and foreign rubbed against her skin. Calloused fingers gripped the bedsheets in wonder at the soft, satin quality of them and paused as another hand touched hers gently. She blinked wearily, the brightness in the room startling her a moment before she adjusted and peered over to the right. Clutching a guitar (that wasn't hers for once), Fuuto sat crossed-legged in a loveseat and was currently leaning forward in order to clutch at her sweaty fingers. Two caramel drops were alight with quiet worry as they gazed into her face, and he placed the source of the sweet music to the side in order to sit on the bed.

He touched her forehead, his hand tracing the outline of her jaw lovingly, and paused when she scrunched her nose again. Thin brows rose in amusement as he watched her twitch that sharp nose a few times in annoyance. "Irritated by the staff's need to make sure you have plenty of oxygen?"

"It itches," she whined, her voice hoarse and thick from lack of use. Just how long was she out?

The idol shook his head and scratched the area diligently until she sighed in relief. Drugged sapphires peered up at him questioningly as he scooted her over and began to lie down beside her. His arm wormed its way underneath her head while his other pulled insistently at her waist until she was practically flushed against his side. She wasn't sure why he was wanting to be so touchy today (tonight really, she noted as her eyes glanced out the darkened windows), but let him be as his nose nuzzled her hair. Whatever had caused him such a scare, she decided that it was probably best if she let him treat her like a bolster for a little while.

"How long was I asleep?"

"Two days," Fuuto mumbled, his voice belying the alertness on his features. "You were a complete wreck when you came to the first time, and Masaomi-nii was worried that you'd hurt yourself or someone else. You've been under sedation for most of the time."

"Sedation?" She blinked owlishly at him, stunned.

He nodded, his eyes sparking in mild amusement, "You're definitely a hellcat, Mari. It took at least four of my brothers to hold you down long enough for Masaomi-nii to give you the sedative."

She jumped as his thumb brushed against her frowning lips and glanced down at him again. "Why did I need it?"

It was his turn to frown as he tried to read her current expression. "Do you not remember?"

"About Nishiomi showing up? Yeah, I remember…"

"Did you think you didn't need the drug?"

"No, I just don't understand why…" She rubbed at her forehead, suddenly very tired. "I don't know anymore, Fuuto."

His scowl hardened and he grabbed her chin to pull it down to his mouth in a rough kiss. He ignored her gasp of surprise and forced his way into her moist cavern, clearly put out with her need to stumble. This wasn't the Himimori Mari he knew and adored, and it was about time that she came back to the surface again. Her cheeks were flushed when he pulled away and her eyes were two dark pools of the deepest depths in the ocean. A thin line replaced the reddening lips and he could feel her shaking with a burst of righteous anger. With a smirk, he replaced his head on the pillow beside her and waited.

"Just what the hell was that for!? You fucking bit my lip, asshole!" She slapped at his shoulder and growled wordlessly as he made it a point to feign sleep. "Fucking weirdo. Have you been watching me sleep the whole time? Creepy pervert."

The blonde almost had a conniption when he snored loudly and raised a fist to slam it down on his damn head when the fatigue registered. The normally soft planes of his face were pinched and drawn tightly around his eyes and forehead from stress. His hair was messier than usual, the locks having fallen free from the clips and lying in a crazy disarray that his stylists would've cried over. While he didn't show how frightened he was seeing her so still for two days, she could tell that he hadn't moved from her side if the wrappers from old food and candy were any hint. Not to mention the pillow and blanket thrown against one side of the loveseat that was pulled up to her bed. Someone must have brought his guitar too since the case was resting rather innocently on its side against the wall, and she began to realize that this wasn't a normal hospital as the framed pictures finally registered.

Hanging innocently on the wall was a portrait of younger Fuuto and Yusuke-sempai, the two holding onto each other like the best of friends. Their eyes alight with laughter as the redhead had the idol's head in a loose headlock. She took in the whole portrait with interest, knowing that the two wouldn't touch each other if they had to, and if Yusuke-sempai ever placed Fuuto in a headlock then it was going to hurt. The room she had been resting in must've belonged to their mother if the numerous pictures and portraits of the siblings were any indication. Her eyes widened as the idol released a soft snore against her neck, his breath rather cool against her warm flesh, and she wondered just how long he'd been awake. Then again, being an idol with a rather crazy schedule, he was used to the weird hours and lack of sleep.

The door clicked open and Mari held her finger to her mouth to keep Kyo from releasing a shriek of relief. Her younger sister quickly nodded in understanding and left to retrieve, she assumed, Masaomi-san. She shook her head, there was no way that any of them were going to let her reaction to Nishiomi go. Even though Ukyo-san already knew along with Kyoko, she was sure that he wouldn't say anything unless the petite raven-haired teenager had given him the okay. But, they needed to know because Mari knew that this first meeting was only just the beginning and they needed to be ready for the worse.

She glanced down at Fuuto's face again and watched as the stress slowly faded away. Her fingers wove their way through his hair, tangling in a few knots but quickly finding their way out, and smiled. Fuuto was definitely one of kind whether or not he agreed, and she was certain that he would protect her in any way he could.

Mari was also pretty convinced that he had a severe bi-polar problem if he was going to bite her lips so forcefully. But, as far as she was concerned, he was a better pick than her first attempt at love.