Chapter 1, enjoy.

(Sophia's POV)

I slowly ran the brush through my hair, combing out the knots and pull my hair into a high ponytail. I turn my head, taking in the massive amount of curls that curl in each direction like the pines of a tree. I slid my hands down the blue skirt a few times and check myself in the mirror. It wasn't like I was that worried about my image but our strict teachers had a thing for perfection and any violation of the dress code meant some form of discipline. Marie, one of my classmates had her skirt too high on her hips and our gym teacher, five foot eleven, a master in judo and built like a tank spanked her. Yes, you heard me right. Spanked her. Like hand to ass. An ass that was so sore Marie couldn't sit for three days.

I touch my skirt again, checking the length in past my fingertips and reach down, grabbing my bag. I stopped at the door, looking at a picture of my mother, brother and me. I was seven at the time. I glanced at my smiling face then my reflection, expressionless and calm. Seven to seventeen. I'd changed so much since then. Lost so much since then. I head downstairs, into the empty kitchen and grab an apple from the crisper. I wash it in the sink, grabbing my lunch I made the day before and slip the apple in my mouth and the lunch into my bag. I swipe my books off the table and was kicking on my shoes when the front door opens

"SOPHIA!" Kozue shouts.

I wait until she looks down and tilt my head to the left "What?"

"Just making sure you're awake," she giggles.

Kozue was my neighbor. Well, technically she lived three houses down from me but still. "Ready to go?"

"Yeah, I'm ready."

I turn, locking up a house that was never home and walk down the steps. My parents divorced when I was born. It was a mutual divorce, no bad blood but I hardly saw my father after that. My father worked a lot overseas, gone for months at a time. I'd get a birthday gift every year. When I was eleven my mother and brother had left, driving down to see his future collage. On the way home, they collided with a drunk driver on the wrong side of the road. The cops say they were gone instantly...

I stayed with my neighbor for a few years but she was old and sick and in the end, I was taking care of her. She passed away in her sleep. I remember finding her, skin cold and body still. I could hardly believe it, didn't want to believe it. She looked so peaceful. Like she was sleeping. I was fourteen.

After that, I was sent to live with my father. While he loved me he wasn't happy about the changes. My father was a free spirit, always going where the wind took him. A job came up across the world? He'd jump into it without hesitation. Now, he had to stop and think of me. When I was fifteen I set him free. With the promise of regular checkups from Kozue's mother, dad was free to leave for months at a time. That's how I found myself waking up to an empty house and a very loving but loud sister.

"Did your dad call last night?"

"Yep," I sigh "Every night at nine o clock."

Kozue often asked about my dad. Having lost her own she didn't understand my hesitation. Yes, Kozue's dad was dead but he loved her and wanted to be around her. My dad wasn't dead but couldn't stand to be around me. It hurt more than losing my mom and brother. We walked down the alley, taking in the smells of fresh grass and morning dew. It had rained last night, making this time my favorite moment to walk to school.

"So..." Kozue teases, causing me to tense "Do you think he'll be back in school today?"

I look away, blatantly ignoring the blush on my cheeks "I have no idea what you're talking about."

She snorts loudly "sure, sure. Let's go with that."

"Yeah well, what about you huh?" I shoot back "How's Baki-kun?" I force my voice to go high and breathy at Baki's name, causing Kozue to blush.

"I don't sound like that!" she sputters "and he's fine." I enjoy my small victory in silence, glancing up at the school before us "At least I can talk to Baki, unlike someone I know."

I tighten my grip on my backpack and walk in silence. In our school was Kaoru Hanayama. He was large, almost two meters tall, very muscular and quiet. His looks alone would scare most people away but I couldn't help but look at him. While Hanayama looked scary on the outside I knew he was a very gentle person. I mean take his glasses, for example, all those scars and fights outside of school yet the boy had the same pair of glasses for the last five years. Holding the small frames in between his large fingers and not breaking them took considerable effort.

Now I'm not saying he didn't break things, Kaoru often looked outside the classroom, breaking pencils with ease. That's how we met and I'm not proud of it but I was angry all right. My father had promised to visit on the weekend and two days before he arrives I get a call saying his trip has been extended and he won't be home. It was stupid. I knew I shouldn't have let myself care, or even hope but I did and like a naïve child I had my dreams crushed again. So I was irritated and Kaoru was sitting at his desk breaking pencils. No, not breaking, snapping pencils.

Snap!

Snap!

Snap!

So I turned around, ripped the pencil out of his large hands and stabbed him in the hand. Let's just say after one embarrassing trip to the principal's office and two weeks of detention I haven't had the guts to look him in the eye.

As you can guess the whole school was obsessed with Kaoru and now thanks to my little stunt, me. I became the crazy pencil lady and the only person not scared of me was Kozue. She laughed in my face when I told her about it. But having the lunch table emptied when I sit had me noticing the other person all alone. Hanayama often sat by himself at lunch, eating quietly and struggling with homework.

I mean I wasn't stupid okay. I'd heard stories about him. Violent stories. Like how he could make someone's arm explode with his insane grip or how he could fight anyone at any time and would never dodge or block a punch. I mean looking at him I could see it but like the rest of us, I didn't want to accept that someone like that existed so close to us.

We arrived at school and easily folded in with the sea of students. I stop by my locker and slip off my shoes, grabbing my indoor shoes. Kozue stops beside me, slipping her shoes off. My school was like most schools, two levels, a large cafeteria, an outdoor track arena/baseball field marked off with high concrete walls and chain-link fences. The school had a large rooftop, wrapped off with metal fences. The door was "locked" but only a few students had the guts to go up there. It was nice and quiet but getting caught meant detention.

"Look who showed up," Kozue whispers against my ear. Her face was resting against my neck and I blush, looking away. While I was technically done I kept my head shoved firmly in my locker as Hanayama's large frame walked past. I swore I could feel his eyes on me. Pausing briefly before opening his locker, which fate would have it was in the same area as mine. I hear Kozue giggle again and slam my locker shut. I grab her hand, all but ripping her out of the locker way and keep my eyes on the floor. Okay, Kaoru was defiantly looking at me at that time.

We run down the hall, around the corner, up the stairs and down the hall to the first period. We both stop, panting lightly "Why he was looking at me?!"

"Maybe its cause you slammed your locker."

"I slammed my locker..."

"Yeah, like you found a dead body in it." She giggles "Why don't you just apologize to him?"

"Really?"

"Yes, it would get rid of all this awkwardness."

"Awkwardness? You think this is awkward Kozue?" I shake her shoulders "This isn't awkward, this is painful! I mean I have to see him every day in class and pretend like something on my desk is so fascinating that I can't look up for the rest of the class. Do you have any idea how weird that is?"

That smile comes back "Just apologize."

"What am I supposed to say?! Hey Hanayama, remember when I stabbed you in the hand with a pencil, well my bad! I was angry at my father and took it out on you. Sorry!"

I glance at Kozue and pause. Her eyes weren't on me, they were behind me. A look of pain on her features. My eyes widen as she looks at me, mouthing "sorry" and leaves down the hall to class. I shut my eyes, rolling my lips in a firm line and turn, finding none other than Kaoru standing behind me. God damn, he's too quiet.

I look up at his large frame. Taking in his large shoes, thick legs covered in baggy pants, wide abdomen and wider shoulders. Large scarred hands broken from countless fights and finally up to his face. I feel myself inhale when I catch his eyes, the gentle almond shape was quietly observing me. When I go to speak he talks. It was deep, short and to the point.

"I forgive you."

I pause, blinking a few times and after I fail to speak he moves, placing his large hands on the door before ducking under it. Oh for the love of god... I look up, wondering why God was torturing me and pause. There were four bloody razor blades tapped to the top of the door. They were high up, too high up for most students to reach. Like I feared Hanayama was at the back of the class, staring at the four punctures in his first three fingers.

I set my bags on the desk quickly and reach for his hand. I take the handkerchief he was sloppily wrapping around his hand and wrap it better "What the hell? Why would someone do this?"

"It's fine. I'll heal."

"Hanayama, you should tell the teacher. This goes beyond bullying." I stand, again "Stay here; I have some band-aids and ointment in my locker."

"It's alright-"

"Don't make me stab you again." I snap back and move, going around a few people as more students trickle into the classroom.

"Hey, Hanayama bro!" A male sings and I turn, seeing Imori Koichii walking down the aisle with a large crossbow "those traps in the shoebox, and the blades on the door were quite creative weren't they?"

Traps in the shoebox? I pause like the other students and wonder what else had happened this morning. He was fine when I ran past him.

Imori cocks his head towards us "hey guys, there are ten minutes before class starts. I need to discuss something with Hanayama in private. I need everyone out." The class just stops, staring at him idly

"Um, what's going on?" I ask

"This is between me and Hanayama. We're going to have a little challenge. Or should I saw a test of courage? I'm only going to say it once again... you better get out of the classroom. I only want to aim this loaded crossbow at Hanayama... but if you stay I will aim it at you first. Who's it gonna be..." he spins the bow across the room and like he hopes everyone yells, dashing from their seats.

Imori turns, glancing back at Hanayama "Hmm, I see. I thought you were going to attack me while my back was turned." He smiles "Sneak attacks aren't your style are they Hanayama. That's quite remarkable of you."

I sigh, standing up from behind the desk and I watch Kaoru's eyes widen slightly then fall back to normal. I knew he wanted me to run but I don't, only standing there "you look brave," Imori continues, clearly not noticing me "Aren't you afraid I'll shoot you with the crossbow?"

I step around the desk and into the middle of the room. All the desks were tipped over and shoved by the window in the commotion "Imori, enough."

His eyes widen and he spins, clearly noticing me now. I feel Hanayama's eyes on me but I look at Imori instead, glaring him down "We'll it looks like we have two brave souls."

"I'm not afraid of you."

"You should be." He smirks and I have to fight the urge to roll my eyes. He has always been like this. An entitled little jerk that thought cheating or using weapons made him tough. He hadn't changed in the slightest "This is a custom made state of the art crossbow. Nine hundred pounds of tension. This arrow has four hundred and fifty pounds of weight at impact." He takes a few steps towards me "I made it specifically for Hanayama. At this distance, it would rip through your body like a hot knife in butter."

"Sophia, leave." Kaoru tries

"No." I step towards him "Imori wouldn't dare shoot me after everything I've done for him. For his family." I could see the guilt flash before his eyes and continue my way slowly around the room

"Stop!"

"Or what?! You gonna shoot me?!" he glares at me "you know you have always been an awful person Imori. From the first day I met you you have done nothing but push me in the mud, stick gum in my hair, destroy my toys and bully me." I keep moving, inching a step after a few words "You carry around weapons to scare people because deep down you know you can't win without them. You need fear. -But guess what? I'm not afraid of you okay?"

"Shut up!"

"Go ahead Imori. Shoot me. Because we both know a gutless turd like you can't do it any other way. I mean, it's almost Ironic. The first time you kill someone and you can't even stomach the thought of using your hands-" A loud bang echoes the room and I jump, waiting for the pain to come. For the wet blood to seep from my body. When it doesn't I open my eyes and notice the hole ripped through the wall an inch from my head "Well, I see your aim hasn't improved."

"Don't patronize me, Sophia. I missed on purpose." He pulls out another arrow and cranks it into place, the arrow was on me but his eyes snap to Kaoru "I want you to cry and beg me for your life Hanayama, beg for Sophia's life. Otherwise, I'll kill her. Right here in front of you." At this Hanayama rises, the chair sliding back. The arrow whips back to him "Don't move!" He lifts the bow towards Kaoru's face "If you think I won't do it you better think again!"

Despite his tough talk, I could see the sweat building on his face "Come on Hanayama. You better stop moving and do what I say. We don't have all the time in the world to do this. I'm not sure how much longer I can hold out, you better start cry-"

Imori's voice trails off as Hanayama moves, ripping open his jacket like a scene from an action movie. Proudly showing off an array of firepower.

"WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?!" Imori shrieks "I THOUGHT YOU WERE ALWAYS UNARMED!"

Still, Kaoru talks calmly "All these are real."

"I KNOW THAT YOU IDIOT! Cuz I'm a weapons collector! -A shotgun, a handgun, Japanese blades, grenades too? What the hell is all that for?!"

"You must feel uneasy using at trinket over there." Kaoru continues "I have more powerful weapons at home but this is all I have on me now." Despite my earlier confidence, I feel my fears rising with Imori's. This was getting out of control quickly. "Here take them!" Kaoru tosses them across the floor like he was giving a kid candy. Imori screams then glance down at the floor "I carry them when I have to fight other students."

"You carry all these when you have to fight other students?!"

"Yes, but I don't use them. They're for the other guys..."

Had the situation been any less tense I would have yelled at Hanayama. This was beyond stupid. Why the fuck was he giving Imori MORE firepower?! That thought vanishes when he moves, ripping open his shirt and strips, dropping the cloth on the ground. As he does he grabs my arm, pulling me to him and sits, his back to Imori. His long arm was holding me to his body, his large frame easily swallows mine and his strong grip prevents me from moving. His hand over my mouth swallows any protest I might make and I fight the urge to bite the flesh.

"Use whatever you want. I won't block or move. Shoot or strike until you're satisfied but once you're done it's going to be my turn..." I shut my eyes, leaning against Kaoru and pray to whatever god was listening.

Please don't let this happen! Please! Please!

.

.

"N...No... ... It's okay... I'm sorry... I'm s-sorry" Kaoru releases my mouth and I sob in relief. Kaoru shifts away from me "No! No, it's okay!" his large hand slams down on a gun "Please don't kill me! I beg you! Forgive me!"

Kaoru simply puts on his coat, slipping his weapons back into their pockets "Then help me pick them up. I need to put them away before I get in trouble."

I glance at the quivering mess of a man and sigh, a hand on my face. This was beyond ridiculous! Imori threatens our lives with a crossbow and then gives up! And Kaoru lets him?!

That fear turns to anger and I reach down, picking up a smaller riffle by the nozzle and lift it, smashing Imori across the face with the heavy handle. Blood sprays across the floor with a few teeth as his head spins. His body follows, hitting the floor in a slump. A small pool of blood pours from his mouth as I stand there seething in rage.

"GOD DAMN IT IMORI!" I screech