And then, there are things that happened that surprised even me. Six years ago...

It had been such a beautiful day, too. I hadn't expected anything unusual. Ijyuin was off getting us a fresh batch of tea when suddenly Nokoru stood up from his work, staring down at his desk. He wasn't looking anywhere NEAR his usual state. Then, slowly, he turned towards his favorite window of the Elementary Student Council room and gently pressed his hand against it, looking out into the early evening sky.
"Suoh?" he asked quietly, not looking away from his view.
"Hai?" I replied, trying to get a fix on his tone.
"...Do you mind this?"
"Mind what?"
"Being my protector?"
I paused, and then I gradually came to realize that Nokoru was asking me if I minded being his ninja guardian. I shook my head. "Not at all." He was silent for a minute, as if he didn't quite believe me. So I added more. "Kaichou, you know I mean that."
He nodded quite absently. I wondered what made him think of that all of a sudden. And why it seemed that he didn't believe a word I said to him.
Nokoru turned around again, and he looked at me, a clear hint of worry in his sapphire eyes. "I just...don't want you to get hurt...for me, I mean."
I took a small breath, then found myself grinning. "Come here," I said, walking over and taking his wrist, pulling him over to the center of the room and sitting us both down, facing one another.
"What brought this on, all of a sudden?" I questioned him, and he fidgeted with the tassel of his fan that had once again magically appeared into his hands.
"Well..." he began slowly, and I could practically see the little motors in his head working towards excuse after excuse. "Because..."
All I heard was a sharp crack as the windows where Nokoru had once been standing shattered inward and I stood instinctively in front of him in one quick movement. Parts of the glass hit me, but weren't going fast enough to do any damage. When the dust and debris faded back, I turned my attention back to Nokoru, whose head was lowered, hair covering his eyes.
"I'm sorry..." he whispered as he took a step forward. He passed me and walked towards his desk as several figures dropped down and into the room. I tensed and dropped two sets of newly sharpened throwing knives into my hands (you always have to keep them freshly sharpened, knowing Kaichou and all of his kidnappers), and waited to see what was going on, for I still hadn't a clue.
One of them stood forward, claiming his dominance among the others, and took a step towards Nokoru. One of my knives flew out and landed just in front of the guy's shoe. I didn't even knew I threw it until I saw it land. Must have been a protective reflex. Hahaue said that would happen. She was right.
"Suoh...don't."
Just like that, Nokoru tells me to stop. And of course, I obey. But this has me even more confused. Usually, when we're in a situation like that, Nokoru encourages me to intimidate them.
But now...Nokoru was standing among his (and now my) enemies with a saddened expression. He looked down as he spoke. "Suoh, take care of the Student Council for me."
That sent my entire mentality screaming for answers. But on the outside, my eyes widened as he looked up at me. I'd never seen him look like that. So...distraught, yet I caught a hint of acceptance and relief as well. They turned to leave, and I ran up and grabbed his arm.
/This is wrong, it feels so very wrong, what the hell is going on, why are you leaving me, don't you leave me, why, why, WHY?!/ Those words I so desperately wanted to say were never spoken. Nokoru was the one to speak.
"Let me go, Suoh."
Let...go...?
I heard another crash from behind me. I turned back to see Ijyuin, holding an empty tray. The teapot was in pieces on the floor, along with a few other items. His eyes were wide and surprised at all the men and the smashed window. Then he saw us.
"Kaichou? Takamura-senpai?!" He asked shakily, not knowing what to do. I prayed that there was something I could do. But who to obey--my One, or my instincts?
"Suoh." My One said in a tone unfamiliar to me, "LET. GO. NOW!!!"
In truth, I wanted to cry. But Takamuras will never cry in sight of their enemies or friends. My body went numb; I had no more feeling in me. I just wanted this whole episode to have never existed.
Slowly, before I knew what was happening, my hand slid down and away from Nokoru's arm, and was back at my side, detaching me from his world. He turned and was lead away. A helicopter dropped down to the window seconds later, blowing in wind that blew his unfinished paperwork around the room like it had before when the window was shattered. Nokoru was brought into the helicopter, the men followed quickly after, and they shut the door, flying away.
I stared after for several minutes, Ijyuin told me later. He said he had been afraid to go near me, for fear of his well being.
But in those terrible minutes, I felt the bond and unique connection we shared shatter and break into a million pieces...and it hurt. The window and Ijyuin's crashing teapot was not so loud as the one of our broken bond, which was echoing in my mind repeatedly, its broken pieces scattered at my feet.
Then, Ijyuin turned angry with me. "Takamura-senpai! WHAT'S /WRONG/ WITH YOU?! HOW /COULD/ YOU!?" I was brought back to reality minimally, his words making an impact.
"H-how could...I..."
"YOU JUST LET HIM /GO?!/"
"...I..."
"I THOUGHT HE WAS YOUR BEST FRIEND! NOW HE'S GONE, TAKAMURA-SENPAI, HE'S GONE, AND IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT!!!!"
"...gone..."
I shivered and took a step towards the window, focusing on the moon's light outside, which seemed to get very hazy. That was the last thing I saw before I passed out.


*** Just a quick note, thanks to all who have read and reviewed my stories so far, and thanks for finding my /small/ typos! I'm not dead yet, so that MUST mean you like what I write! (Waves fan around in happiness) Feedback is greatly appriciated! Thanks a bunch!