Sora returned that night from the dojo in high spirits. "All right! On to the fifth round! One more, and I make the quarterfinals!"

He smiled as he opened the door to find his room dark. He slunk quietly in. "Going to jump me in the night, Shizuka? I wonder what evils you've got planned…" He blinked as he reached the bed, and saw a lump under the covers. "Aw… did you fall asleep waiting for me?" He grinned. "So cute…"

He slipped into bed beside her. "At least give me a victory kiss or something, Shizuka," he said, playfully poking the shape beside him.

At his touch, the shape leapt to life, wrapping its arms and legs tightly around him. "A kiss? What a delightful thought! But why stop there?"

Sora stared as the figure raised its head. Green eyes glittered at him from the darkness. "Amy-chan? What…?"

Amy smiled. "I told you and Shizuka-chan that I would be the one to get to you first, didn't I… Sora-chan?"

Sora squirmed in her grip, but was barely able to move. Where did this strength come from? I may focus on speed, but I'm no weakling… He grit his teeth. "Amy-chan, I don't understand! I thought…"

Amy laughed. "You thought you'd gotten me to buy into that crap about your innocent love? Well… I guess I did, for a little bit. But I can see it now… All that matters is what you walk away from a relationship with. And if I have to break you out of your childish mindset to get what I want… then that's a small price to pay. And I won't be paying it."

Sora tried to kick, but Amy tightened her hold on him, making him cry out softly from the pain. "Amy-chan… please, don't do this…"

Amy grinned, and then leaned forward. Sora tried to move back, but Amy held him tightly, and then her lips fastened greedily on his. Sora stared, horrified, into her crazed, red-rimmed eyes. Amy chuckled softly, and Sora gagged as her tongue invaded his mouth. He began to weep silently, completely dominated and powerless.

Amy held him for nearly two minutes, but eventually retreated, panting for breath with a wicked smile on her face. Sora gasped as she withdrew. "Why…?" he moaned.

Amy giggled. "Oh, we're just beginning, Sora-chan. I told you… I'm rather experienced when it comes to this part. And I'm always in control." She pinched the skin of his back roughly. "I've ached for you for weeks… and now you're mine…"

Sora twitched, and with a supreme effort managed to roll them from the bed and onto the floor. Amy smiled up at him, not even winded. "Oh… you want the top, then? Fine, I don't care… just do it!"

Sora grit his teeth. "No."

Amy pouted. "Aw, come on, Sora-chan… it's not that hard. It'll be fun!" She shifted, rubbing herself against him. "And I know you want to. There isn't a boy alive who can resist my body… Well, come on. I left on the last few bits, so you could take them off yourself. And I see you're still fully dressed. So… Let's start."

Sora tensed in her grip. "I said, no!"

Amy shook her head. "You don't get to make that call. I'm in control here!" She smirked. "Oh, I get it… Shizuka-chan, right? Listen, you don't even have to do it out of love. Being in love and having sex are two completely different things. Shizuka-chan doesn't have to know. She can still think she's the one you're giving your precious virginity to."

Sora's eyes widened. "Shizuka… where is she?"

Amy smiled malevolently. "Oh, yeah… Don't worry. We won't be interrupted." She shivered slightly. "Oh… come on, Sora-chan. Let's 'become one'… that's how Renée-chan puts it, right? If Hiruma-kun can work up the courage to do it, surely you can as well."

Sora glared into her eyes. "What did you do to Shizuka?"

Amy laughed. "I told you… I made sure she wouldn't interrupt us."

Sora let out a roar. "Let go!" He drew his head back and slammed it against hers again and again. "I won't do it with you! I might do it with her one day, but never with you!"

Amy squeezed him hard against her. "How can you not want to? The two of us, naked and entwined… I shiver just thinking about it! Why won't you let us both share in that pleasure?"

Sora drew back his head again. "It's not a pleasure I'm willing to share with someone like you! Sleeping together is something I will only do with someone I love!" He slammed his head down, and Amy shrieked as her nose broke with a loud crunch.

As she went to feel her injured nose, Sora broke her grip with a convulsive movement and leapt to his feet. Amy grit her teeth and got to her feet. "You're making me very angry now, Sora-chan," she growled. "I got dressed up, acted sexy for you… the least you could do is thank me! But you won't even feel me up, will you?"

Sora turned around. "No," he said firmly. "I'm not ready to do that with anybody. Besides, being overly sexy isn't going to make me want to be with you." He walked towards the bathroom. "She's in here, isn't she?"

Amy darted forward. "Yeah, but so what? You're not going anywhere!" she yelled.

Sora spun, blocked her arm, and caught her by the throat. He slammed her against the ground and stood over her, panting. "Enough."

Amy smiled wildly. "Yes, that's it! Come on, take me right here! Rape me for all I care, just let me feel that pleasure from your body!" She reached behind her back and began unfastening her bra. "Here, I'll get you started."

Sora moved up and unceremoniously stepped on her wrist. "Stop that. I don't have any desire to see you even partially nude." He glared. "Where is Shizuka?"

Amy groaned. "In the bathroom, like you thought. I can't believe this… you're picking her over me? She's only got average measurements!"

Sora let go and went to the bathroom door. "Size is not the way into my heart, Amy-chan. I don't see why at least that lesson hasn't stuck." He opened the door and flipped on the light. "Shizuka!" he called.

A low groan met his ears, and he looked down. Shizuka lay sprawled on the ground, arms spread-eagled and her eyes closed. Her body was bare, and somewhat wet, and a towel covered her, cockeyed as if carelessly tossed over her. Sora yelled and ran to her side. "Shizuka!"

She stirred. "No… go away…"

Sora gathered her into his arms, carefully arranging the towel to cover her body. "Shizuka… it's all right…"

He felt something wet, and took away his hand to see red on it. "Blood…" he muttered. "Shizuka, what did she do to you?"

Shizuka began to squirm in his arms. "No… stop that… I'm not that kind of girl…" A trickle of blood ran down from the corner of one eye.

Amy stood in the doorway, laughing. "Oh, yeah… You weren't around when I came up, and I was bored, so I used her to warm myself up for you. I thought you'd be appreciative, but if you're not going to take me, I guess there wasn't much of a point." She grinned wickedly. "It wasn't very much fun, either. You're making a mistake, picking her over me."

Sora gasped. "You… you did that… to my Shizuka?" He set Shizuka down gently, noting the strange bend of her right arm. Broken bone… I'll have to be careful of that. She needs the hospital anyway. I just hope I'm in time…

Amy nodded. "Hey, college is about experimentation. I definitely prefer boys, but she was fun in her own way."

Sora came up and stood in front of her. "You…"

Amy grinned widely. "Tell you what… you sleep with me, and I'll let you take her to the hospital. Then you can do what you like with her. I mean, she'll still be a virgin, even if you won't…"

Sora cut her off by grabbing her arm and shoving her roughly aside. "Move," he said shortly. "I'm taking Shizuka to the hospital now. Go find someone else to play whore with."

Amy sat stunned as Sora pulled the blanket off of the bed and shook it. "D-did you just call me…" she stammered.

Sora glared down at her momentarily as he passed by. "A whore?" he said, coldly. "Yeah. I can think of far worse names to call you, but it will suffice for now. Get out of my sight." He knelt by Shizuka's side, covering her in the blanket. "Hold still, now," he whispered softly.

Shizuka moaned. "No… no… don't do that again… I'm not…"

Sora wrapped the blanket gently around her, tucking it underneath her. "Shhh… it's all right now. She's gone."

Shizuka struggled against the wrap. "No! Amy-chan, stop that! So-chan, help!"

Sora stroked her forehead, and lifted her into his arms. "Easy, easy… it's me…"

Shizuka yelped in pain as her arm moved. "No… So-chan!"

Sora bent forward, and kissed her. "Shizuka…"

Shizuka tried to shy away for a moment, but then stopped, and began to kiss him back. "So-chan…" she murmured as they drew apart.

Sora nodded. "It's okay now. So-chan's here."

Shizuka tensed, and began to open her eyes. "I… I…"

Sora stood up, cradling her shrouded form in his arms. "I've got you." He gasped suddenly, as her left eye opened. Amy had been even rougher than he had thought. "Shizuka…"

Shizuka yelped. "I can't see!"

Sora kissed her forehead. "It's all right… your left eye's… injured. Open your other one." He stared down at the ruined eye sadly. "How could she do this…?"

Shizuka's right eye opened. Sora sighed with relief. Her eye was bright and aware, the same clear sky-blue as always. Shizuka smiled as her eye focused on him. "So-chan… you came…"

Sora nodded. "Try not to move. Your arm's broken; probably your legs, too. I'm going to get you to the hospital."

He turned, and saw Amy standing in the doorway. "Nobody… calls me a whore!" she shouted. "Put her down and come here. Now, or I'll beat you up and kill her!"

Sora's eyes blazed. "Kill Shizuka?" he shouted back. "You will do nothing of the sort!" He stepped briskly forward. "I'm taking Shizuka to the hospital. Get out of my way."

Amy roared and charged him. "Your choice, then!" she screamed. "Either she dies and I take you, or you take me and I'll let her live!"

Sora glared. "I choose neither. She lives, and nobody gets 'taken'." He surged forward and kneed her in the stomach. "Now get out of my way!"

Amy staggered back, winded. "What…" she gasped.

Sora surged forward. Clutching Shizuka to him with one hand, he blocked her next attack and shoulder-barged her into the wall. He glared into her eyes for a moment. "What happened to you? The Amy-chan I know would never even hurt Shizuka, let alone try to kill her!"

Amy laughed. "She's in my way. Jealousy is a powerful force, Sora-chan. And so is lust!"

Sora stared at her a moment longer. Her eyes were wild, and blazing green. "You…" He cut off suddenly. Black dots flickered and ran across her eyes in insane patterns. "AIDA…"

Amy smiled. "Oh, you finally figured it out?" She laughed. "Leukos left you a little gift, right before he turned traitor and was executed for his wrongdoing. It's truly amazing… I feel so much more powerful, and my mind is so clear!"

Sora kneed her in the stomach again, and then knocked her to the ground with a roundhouse kick. "That's enough from you," he said icily. He stood over her for a minute, his eyes dangerous. "I'll deal with you later, AIDA. For now…" He indicated the once-again unconscious bundle in his arms. "Shizuka needs me."

He turned and exited the dorm, leaving Amy lying stunned on the ground. "Power… how can he have so much outside of the game?" She shook her head. "It matters not. That beautiful, strong body will someday be mine!"

Ignoring her insane laughter, Sora quickly descended the stairs, still holding Shizuka, and made his way to the infirmary. Nurse Asano looked up and sighed as he entered. "What did I tell you last time, Kapalo-san?"

Sora looked at her with a grim expression. "Please… I need you to help Shizuka."

Nurse Asano took one look at Shizuka's unconscious form, and the blood seeping through the blanket, and nodded grimly. "I'll take her. You call for an ambulance."

Sora nodded, gently laying her in her arms. "Careful. She's got at least one broken limb. And you may want to draw a curtain around her."

As Nurse Asano took Shizuka to a curtained cot and began tending to her, Sora picked up the phone and dialed the emergency line. Forcing himself to remain calm, he spoke into the receiver. "My name is Kapalo Sora, a student at Taio University. My girlfriend was assaulted and badly injured. We need an ambulance as soon as possible."

"Of course," the operator responded. "What are her injuries?"

Sora shook his head. "No idea… broken bones, miscellaneous cuts and bruises..."

Nurse Asano poked her head out of the curtain. "There's a stab wound here. It's bad, but I think I can staunch it."

Sora tensed. "Look, just send the ambulance over!"

The operator's voice was soothing. "Relax, Kapalo-san. It's already on its way."

Sora sighed. "Thank you," he said, and hung up.

The nurse emerged from the curtains again. "Can you come in here a moment? She's awake for the moment, and she's asking for you."

Sora nodded. "Cover her up first, though." He pushed aside the curtain and entered. Shizuka gazed up at him with her good eye; the other was covered by a bandage. "So-chan…" she whispered.

Sora laid his hand on hers. "It's all right. We're going to get you to the hospital."

Shizuka shivered. "Don't leave me…"

Sora shook his head. "Of course not. But I have to wait outside while Asano-san does what she can for your wounds."

Shizuka giggled softly. "Still too embarrassed to look at your girlfriend, So-chan? I'm not ugly or anything."

Sora shook his head. "I know that. You're a very beautiful girl. I'm just not comfortable with seeing you… like that."

Shizuka sighed. "I know." She smiled. "Stay close…" she said, and closed her eye again.

Sora left and nodded to Nurse Asano, who bowed and pulled the curtain across again.

Within an hour, Shizuka was being tended to by hospital staff, and Sora was sitting anxiously in the waiting room. A doctor came out, still gloved. "Are you the boy who called in the ambulance?"

Sora nodded. "Yeah. She's my girlfriend. How is she?"

The doctor shook his head. "We've been able to treat her injuries, but she's lost a lot of blood. Worse, she's A-negative, so the repository won't be able to get a transfusion over here for a few hours."

Sora stared. "A-negative, huh? Rare, especially here…"

The doctor nodded. "Exactly. We'll do what we can, but she really lost a lot of blood, especially from the wound to her stomach, plus a scratch on her wrist that nicked the vein. It's touch-and-go from here."

Sora glared up at him. "Has the requisition been made yet?" he said quickly.

The doctor blinked. "Not… yet, no."

Sora nodded. "Then, change it to O-negative," he said, forcefully. "My type. I'll do the transfusion right now."

The doctor stared. "Kapalo-san… She'd need at least two pints to be stable. That's a big risk…"

Sora slammed his fist down on the chair. "I know that, damn it! But I will not let Shizuka die! Do it now, or I'll knock you out and do it myself!" he shouted.

The doctor stared at him, amazed. "Kapalo-san…" Respect seemed to grow in his eyes. "All right," he said. "But two pints, and no more. You'd be in danger of exsanguination if you gave more than that."

Sora grit his teeth. "Fine. Do it." He stood up and followed the doctor into the emergency room.

A nurse looked up from bathing one of Shizuka's cuts. "Doctor Tensei, what…?"

Doctor Tensei nodded. "We have a volunteer for transfusion. He's accepted the risks. Prepare the equipment, and switch the requisition over to two units of O-negative."

Sora sat by Shizuka's side, stroking her forehead. "I won't let either of us die, Shizuka. Don't worry."

Doctor Tensei laid a hand on his shoulder. "Lie down on this cot, please." He began preparing needles and sterile tubing. "With two pints of new blood in her, she should be fine. You're not anemic or anything, right?"

Sora shook his head. "I've donated plenty of times before. O-negative is in pretty high demand over here, after all."

Doctor Tensei nodded. "Right… I'll monitor with this." He held up a small electronic device. "This will measure how much blood you've lost. Once two pints have gone into her, I'm cutting it off."

Sora nodded, wincing as the nurse tied a tourniquet to his arm and began swabbing his arm roughly with iodine. "Man… I do hate needles, though…" he muttered.

Doctor Tensei smiled, and plucked at the tourniquet. "I suggest you close your eyes, then." He raised the needle.

Sora smiled, and gently reached over with his free right hand and grasped Shizuka's. "I'm here…" He winced as the needle pierced his skin. "Here goes…" he muttered.

About twenty minutes later, the nurse took his arm and slid the needle out. "All right, you're in the clear. Don't do anything too crazy for a while, drink lots of water, and don't be surprised if you feel light-headed for a while."

Doctor Tensei gently slid a saline IV into his other arm. "This should help somewhat." He frowned as a cellphone ring sounded.

Sora grinned sheepishly, and picked it up. "Yes? I'm at the hospital right now…"

"It's Hiruma. And this isn't a social call, I assure you." Hiruma's voice was harried. "Atoli's gone missing."

Sora blinked. "Atoli? What do you mean?"

Hiruma grit his teeth. "She left the party early, and nobody's seen her since. But something's up. Zefie can't even sense her. She was at Morrigu Barrow, then… nothing."

Sora sighed. "Does Haseo-kun know? G.U.'s probably able to handle it."

Hiruma's voice sounded shocked. "Sora-kun… this is Atoli we're talking about! Henako saw her talking to Ovan at the party. Then she's vanished, and meanwhile Tri-Edge is on the move!"

Sora grit his teeth. "I can't leave Shizuka. She's still unconscious. And I promised that I would stay with her."

Hiruma sighed. "Sora-kun… Fine. I'll set G.U. on it. But think long and hard about this."

Sora closed his eyes. "I know… Atoli's as good as a sister to me. I… I don't know…" He sighed. "And, then there's the fact that I'm now down two pints of blood."

Hiruma caught his breath. "You… I see. Shizuka-san needed it?"

Sora nodded. "She's A-negative. You know how rare that is."

Hiruma sighed. "All right. Get some rest, then. Call me if you change your mind; I'll drive you back whenever you need me to."

Sora nodded. "Thanks. You really are like a brother to me." He closed his phone and laid back. "All right…" He drifted off, still holding tightly to Shizuka's hand.

About half an hour later, he sensed Shizuka's hand move in his and jerked instantly awake. "Shizuka?"

She stirred. "So-chan…?"

Sora leapt from his cot with a clatter and hugged her tightly. "Shizuka… you're alive…"

Shizuka giggled softly, and opened her unbandaged eye. "Hey, So-chan…" She leaned up and kissed him. "What's up?"

Sora trembled, and sat back on his cot. "You're okay… I'm so glad…"

Doctor Tensei came over. "She's not fully recovered yet, but it looks like she should be fine."

Shizuka looked at Sora. "You're still upset about something…"

Sora sighed. "I'm worried about Atoli… but I guess it's out of my hands now."

Shizuka gripped his hand. "What happened?"

Sora shook his head. "We don't know. She was at the party, she talked to Ovan, and then she just… vanished. She's in 'The World' somewhere, but…" He grit his teeth. "Haseo-kun's on it, but I'm worried still. Tri-Edge is on the move again…"

Shizuka stared. "So-chan, why didn't you go help her?"

Sora blinked. "You needed me, too. And I promised I'd stay nearby."

Shizuka glared at him. "I thought you said she was like a sister to you. I'm just your girlfriend. Don't you dare put me before her, or I'll never forgive you."

Sora blanched. "Shizuka, that's just it. I can't put either of you first. I don't know what to do…"

Shizuka squeezed his hand tightly. "Then I'll make it easy for you. Go to her, right now. Your sister needs you. I've got all these doctors looking after me. Waiting for me to wake up is one thing, but you can't abandon Atoli like that just because of me." She blinked back tears. "So-chan, you always say you don't want others to sacrifice themselves for you. But what about me? I don't want you sacrificing someone important to you to save me!"

Sora stood, and drew the IV out of his arm. "You're right…"

Doctor Tensei looked at him. "You shouldn't move around much…"

Sora shook his head. "I'm fine. I'm not going to move much anyway. Hiruma-kun will do all the driving. I just have to get down to the car, and then to my room." He bent down close to Shizuka. "I'll bring her back."

Shizuka smiled. "I'm here. I'm alive. Don't worry about me."

Sora grinned, and kissed her. "I know."

He stood, and pulled out his cellphone. Once he was in the front lounge, he flipped it open. "Hiruma-kun? It's Sora. I'm going after Atoli."

Within fifteen minutes, Sora was back in his dorm, firing up his computer. "I should have done this from the start," he muttered.

Hiruma laid a hand on his back. "Don't strain yourself. How's Shizuka-san?"

Sora smiled. "Alive, and awake. And very angry at me for waiting so long to go after Atoli."

Hiruma shook his head. "It's all right. She needed you too." He turned and left. "Just make sure you don't fail Atoli. Head for Morrigu Barrow."

Sora nodded, and slotted down his FMD visor. "Let's dance, Tri-Edge."

Haruko arrived in 'The World' and quickly went to Morrigu Barrow, just in time to see Kuhn, Pi, and Haseo vanish through the wall. He blinked, and walked up to it. A blazing trio of red lines made a strange, A-shaped mark on the wall: a Tri-Edge sign. He raised his bracelet and charged at the wall, but bounced off. "What…?" he muttered, and then watched in horror as the glow faded. "No… I can't get through!" He grit his teeth, and seated himself in front of the sign. "Atoli… I'll wait here for you. And I will save you! I swear it!"

Author's Notes: You can just see that creepy shattering effect from the end of the first game when Haruko says, "I swear it!" can't you? :D Well, that was the effect I was going for, anyway... So, this brings Segment 2 to a close. And a bit of trivia... it might seem random that Shizuka is blood type A-negative, but actually, she's A- because I'm A-. Just me having a bit of fun with my characters... And through dumb luck, it seems to fit her pretty well. I might decide to blood-type the other characters sometime, but those really would be personality-based. As for the rarity, A- is pretty rare over here too, but anything negative is exceedingly rare in Asian countries. Less than one percent of Asians are Rh-negative, making it a hugely valuable type of blood.

So, I'll give it a week or two, and then start uploading Segment 3. (Unless popular demand forces me to do it earlier, that is.) That part is also fully complete at time of writing, so things should go fast, but I'll have to slow down when we hit Segment 4, because I haven't written more than ten pages of it yet. (In fact, I haven't even finished playing the game yet...) That's my goal over the summer- to play G.U. volume 3, and to write Segment 4 while I'm doing that. So, updates will probably become erratic, falling back to weekly, or even longer... But I can still keep up the 3-a-week for Segment 3, and while that's going I should be able to get a buffer of Segment 4 chapters finished.

We're halfway there... keep sticking with me, guys. The Disciples and I have yet to even begin being evil to our favorite winged Adept Rogue...