Pain

An Azumanga Daioh Fan Fiction by sugoisakaki

WARNING: This story contains gore/violence and adult themes; discretion is advised. Rated M.

A/N: I figured that it would be a good idea to explain just why Sakaki isn't acting only reticent lately, but jaded as well. We all know that Sakaki, although she hides it well (unlike Kaorin), is probably the second-most emotionally sensitive and unstable people in the whole series. Therefore, putting Sakaki in a situation with Kaorin makes for great Angst Literature, but it needs to be backed up in order for Sakaki not to seem out of character. I hope to do just that in this, my latest chapter, in which we look at the events that occurred during Sakaki's most recent summer vacation (that's right—it's flashback time)!

FLASHBACK 1 (CHAPTER 2)--Kagura and the Wolf:

The second day of the Summer trip to Chiyo-chan's seaside house started out with a beautiful sunrise over the Sea of Japan. So beautiful was the sight that anyone who could see it would have easily understand why Japan is known as "The Land of the Rising Sun"; surely there was nothing better in the world than watching that old, majestic orange sphere rise over such a blue body of water as the Sea of Japan.

However, it seemed many of the tourists or residents were taking their source of livelihood for granted that morning—either they were sleeping in, or they were watching the early-morning NHK News via satellite dish within their cozy seaside cabins. There were only two souls on the beach that morning, and they were both high-schoolers.

"WOW! I do think that there is nothing better than watching the sunrise, no matter where one may be in Japan!"

"Un."

Kagura and Sakaki were both sitting at the oceanfront, watching the sun crawl into the morning sky centimeter by centimeter. It was Kagura's idea, for she not only wanted to see the sun that she was so transfixed with rise into the sky, but she also wanted to speak with Sakaki about her reticent nature.

Kagura was, of course, the first person to speak up. "Oi, Sakaki!"

Sakaki replied cooly. "Hn?"

Kagura fought the incessant urge to bop the dense Sakaki on the noggin for her lack of attention. "Sakaki, you act so cool, but I know the truth!"

Sakaki gasped and blushed slightly. "Y...you do?"

Kagura sighed. "Yes, I do: you like cats, for one; whenever you see one, you blush like a tomato. Hell, you blush at anything that may or may not fit one's categorical description of cute!"

Sakaki blushed at Kagura's bluntness.

Kagura snickered. "See what I mean? You're blushing now!"

Sakaki's blush deepened even more.

"Not only that," Kagura continued, "but you aren't living up to your full potential at school; truth be told, you're living a lie! With such a cool-looking façade, you've got everyone including yourself confused about the real you!"

All of a sudden, as if someone had tripped a circuit breaker, the blush disappeared from Sakaki's face; now she was angry. "What gives you the right to tell me who I am or who I am not!"

Kagura was taken aback; she wasn't expecting this reaction. However, she tried to reason with her enraged friend. "Easy, girl—I just meant that..."

"'I just meant that...' nothing! Maybe I do like cats and such stuff, but I could care less about humans I don't know very well!"

Kagura couldn't help but smirk. "What about Kaorin?"

Sakaki did her best to keep from blushing; she had expected this kind of attack from Kagura. "I couldn't give a damn less!"

Kagura snickered again, while Sakaki decided to leave her for a walk down the beach alone.

As Sakaki walked down the beach, she was brooding inside herself. 'Oh, God—what am I going to do at school if I run into Kaorin?'

Sakaki blushed profusely at the thought, but quickly continued to move down the beach. 'I'll just have to avoid her, I guess,' Sakaki decided.

TO BE CONTINUED!