Chapter 4

The few days with Takeda were wonderful. He was gone for most of the day but the mornings were filled with conversations and laughter. Well, I was laughing and Takeda would smile softly. We got in a lot of training.

Bang, bang bang! The kendo sticks crash together and I step back, avoiding his strike.

It stops above my head "That's one point. You're getting sloppy."

I counter quickly, swinging the baton above my head and swing it down. It stops above his head "One-one."

He steps forwards slightly as I draw my baton from my hip. I step back, circling my fingers around my handle. "So what did your father say?"

"About us knowing each other?" I block his strike, staring at him "That might be why he choose you." I spin to the left, countering again "How did he choose you?"

He blocks, pushing me back slightly "He called a friend of mine in security. I know how to protect you and I was looking for a place to stay. It worked."

I snort, pushing back "Typical huh?"

"Have you two talked about the accident yet?" my grip falters and I feel my baton smacked out of my hand. He moves to strike against my arm lightly "I'll take that as a no."

I sigh and pick up my water bottle, taking a slow sip I brush some sweat off my face. We had moved all of the furniture out of the office, setting up some mats and equipment. I'm sure dad wouldn't be happy about us demolishing his office but it wasn't like he was home to stop me.

"Dad and I hardly talk about anything. We talk but we're not talking." I place my helmet on the floor and begin removing my safety pads.

"Are you angry about that?"

Takeda removes his helmet and I pause. His face was still the same but his hair was now short. Whether that was for function or fashion was still unknown.

"I think if I open that box I won't be able to shut it..." I crack open the window and sit, let my hair out of its tight bun "I think Dad has been running from his problems since their divorce and if I'm not there to stop him he'll probably do something stupid."

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I stood on the chair, trying to grab the stupid box dad had stuck in the back of the closet. God, why was this so hard? I shove some of the boxes on top of each other and reach in the back. I could feel my elbow brushing against the boxes and ignore it. I move closer to the front of the chair and could feel the basket with my fingers.

"Yes! I got it!"

My joy was short-lived as I felt the chair tip forwards. I gasp, my feet finding air and I fall, knocking the boxes down with me. The last thing I hear is my scream and intense pain before darkness.

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"Sophia..."
My body felt so heavy.
"Sophia answer me..."
Tadaka sounded worried, very worried but this darkness felt so much better then being here
"Sophia please, just open your eyes! Just look at me once!"
My head was pounding and my back hurt. I could hear Takeda's voice calling me loudly. "Come on hot shot, wake up, please..."

I blink once and find myself blinded by blurry lights. Yet turning my head was worse, the sharp stabbing pain ran down my spine. God everything hurt. Moving hurt. Breathing hurt. Thinking hurt. I cough painfully, feeling a rag on my forehead.

"Come on hot shot, one word, please..." By now the world had cleared enough to show Takada over me, his hands on my face like I'd die at any second. I swallow roughly, my throat thick with phlegm.

"...Ouch..."

Takada laughs painfully, resting his head on top of mine for a brief moment "Don't move okay? That was a nasty fall."

I guess Baki had heard my scream as the front door opens, Baki and Kozue rush in "Sophia are you okay?!" she screams stopping at the bottom of the stairs

"Where are you?!" Baki follows. I guess he sensed us. Rushing into the room everyone pauses, the four of us stare at each other. Baki's eyes narrowed dangerously as he drops into a fighting stance "What the hell is going on here?!"

I'm sure if Takeda wasn't leaning over me he would have been at Baki's throat.

Kozue intervenes "Baki stop!" her hands grip his shirt and bicep like she could do something to stop him "Do you remember what my mom said?! Sophia was getting a roommate!"

Baki doesn't move, his eyes only burrow into Takeda. Takeda stares back, eyes narrowing darkly.

I cough again "Can I get off the floor now...?"

Kozue steps forwards pushing some boxes away from my feet "What happened?"

"She fell off the chair getting..." Takeda looks at me "What were you getting?"

"Is it bad that I don't remember..." I laugh painfully

"I'm Kozue. Should I call a doctor?"

"Takeda and I'm not sure."

Baki relaxes, kneeling beside me "Where does it hurt?"

"My back and head though its hard to tell at the moment."

Baki and Takeda just glare at each other. Each one had a hand on my arms and legs like they were marking their territory. Despite my pain, I could help but laugh when Kozue smack both men upside the head.

I woke the next morning in pain. My ribs and back burned. I groan hissing in pain and roll over onto my stomach. Sliding my legs off the end of the bed I managed to get out of bed without bending my back. I walk over to the mirror and use my left hand to pull up my shirt; I bunch up the material by my shoulder and notice the large bruise around my lower back.

I locked eyes with Takeda in the mirror "you gonna be okay today?"

I drop my shirt and smile softly "I might need a pillow but yeah I'll be fine."

After a very embarrassing struggle to get dressed, I made my way downstairs. Takeda had breakfast on the table. I grab a pillow off the couch and sit down. "You could stay home today. I don't have any classes today. There's nothing wrong with taking it easy."

"What?" I smirk "Are you asking me to break my perfect attendance record?"

Takeda stops, staring at me coldly. The smile on my face only grows. That wasn't a very subtle jab at our high school years. Takeda had gotten on my case a few times about skipping classes in my first year.

"Why did I agree to watch you?"

"You know, I was asking myself the same thing."

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"Are you sure you'll be okay?" Kozue asks for the seventh time this walk "that was a nasty fall."

"Kozue I love you but I will push you down the stairs if you ask me that again." We both look up at the school as Kozue checks her watch "You should go ahead. You'll get in trouble for being late."

"I'm not leaving you like this."

I point to my back with my thumb "I have an excuse." She looks at me softly "Go," I nod "I can make it up the street by myself."

After a few gentle pushes, she runs ahead. I shift my bag to my left hand and touch my shoulder. God, my back was killing me... I watch some cars go up the street and place my hand on the wall. Most of the walk was going down but the last block was a straight uphill walk and the change in altitude was killing me.

"Sophia?" I pause, hearing the smooth deep voice behind me.

I drop my hand from the wall and slowly turn around. Kaoru was standing behind me. Kizaki was standing by the car, half out of the car as he watches the scene. I open my mouth but the words die on my tongue. His eyes narrow, taking in my body slowly.

"You're hurt."

It was more of a statement than a question.

I feel myself blush under his intense gaze "My closet attacked me..." I look away "I'm okay, it's just hard to go up the hill."

He waits about four seconds and moves, one hand under my legs and the other across my back. I wince as he stands up and I feel him freeze, looking at me slowly "I'm okay."

I set my bag on my lap as we walk to school. Kaoru had shifted, placing most of my weight on my butt instead of my back making the trek much easier "Why did your closet attack you?"

My face heats up again and I look away "I was trying to get something out of the closet and the chair tipped over. Honestly, I'm not sure what I was getting."

"You don't remember?"

"No... it's still fuzzy."

He hums quietly and keeps walking.
Like he was afraid we'd get lost Kizaki was slowly puttering in the car behind us, I chose not to say anything about it and looked up towards the school. I wasn't sure if I was thankful or not for Kaoru's height. We reached the school faster than I would have on my own and I see our P.E. teacher standing by the school gates.

After one of our school teachers were attacked and killed by a group of students the school was forced to put in a protection system. Certain teachers with specific qualifications were set in place to "re-enforce" good behavior around the school. Mr. Takichi was one of those teachers. The buff man stood at the gate, eyeing both of us slowly.

"Miss Jones, Miss Matsumoto told me about your injuries, I was beginning to worry about you."

"Sorry Takichi-sensei, I'm not trying to worry anyone. I'm also sorry for making Hanayama-san late for school." I stare Kaoru dead in the face "He was adamant about helping me."

"You couldn't walk up the hill." Kaoru's words were firm and the end of any argument. He looks from me to our teacher "Are we in trouble Takichi-sensei?"

Takichi-Sensei looks between us and steps aside "Don't let it happen again."

Kaoru carried me into the school and to the locker room. I wasn't sure if I should be worried or flattered that he knew which locker was mine. I mean we were on different sides of the locker room so when he pulls open the correct shoebox on the first try I felt myself blush. That blush only intensifies when his hand moves; taking most of my weight in one arm as he gently removes my shoes like I was a doll. He sets them in the box and shuts it. I pull out my shoes and thank god I choose flats. Had he stood there carefully tying each lace I would have died...

We made our way class and I forced Kaoru to put me down before we entered. He went in first and I followed. My eyes caught Kozue's sigh of relief and I move towards Matinstu-Sensei's desk. I explain the reason for our lateness and apologize again. She nods, making sure I didn't need anything else before continuing the class. I loved Matinstu-Sensei, she was a very relaxed teacher and often let things like coming to class late or missing an assignment slide.

I place my pillow on the chair and turn, slowly lowering to my chair. I pause on the cushion, my legs still in the aisle when Matinstu-Sensei speaks "Are you sure you'll be alright Sophia-san?"

I turn, pulling my legs under my desk with my arms "I'll be fine, thank you Matinstu-Sensei." I feel her eyes on me as I pull out my books.

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The usually fun class seemed to drag on and on.
The more I sat the more my back hurt.
The dull throbbing seemed to grow every five minutes.
By the second period I could hardly keep my eyes open.
I place my hands over my face; leaning into them I shut my eyes.

I felt so tired.
I could hear Kozue's voice calling me but it was soft, like she was moving away from me.
I felt the world spinning, that wonderful warmth returning, dulling out the pain.
It felt so nice...

A second voice speaks but it was too late, I was too far gone.
All I wanted to do was rest.