Chapter One:

Freaking Out

7/8

Akihiko's POV

My heart pounded roughly in my chest before my arms swung defeated at my sides. The cool hide of the punching bag felt good against my forehead as I leaned into it. Maybe I'm pushing things just a little too far here. Exams start in a week, I should be studying not spending double time on my training regime. Grudgingly I struggle to sit down on the bed, not even bothering to take off my gloves.

Taking a moment of reprieve I lay back and close my eyes, though I instantly regret it. Just as they have since the night before the flashbacks roll like a movie reel in my head.

-Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ-

Minako quietly slides out through the bathroom door. Her auburn hair, which is usually tied up tightly is hanging loose and wet at her shoulders. Somewhere in the back of my mind I note how naturally beautiful she is, but my thoughts are primarily focused on the towel hanging around her bare form. "Took you long enough," I joke, my voice thick with an emotion I don't recognize.

Alarms go off all throughout my brain. Something is wrong, I can tell... but just as the thought forms to do anything about it something takes over me. A dark pang of hunger and what feels like... yearning hits me like a truck. Everything becomes cloudy, and I can barely think through the waves of euphoria coursing through my veins.

Embrace your desires of the flesh...

Exhaling hotly, I force myself to pay attention. Minako is in front of me now and a sloppy smile is plastered on her face. Everything about her is intoxicatingly gorgeous. I reach for her hand, but all she does is cock her head and chuckle. The sound of her laughter - which I realize I've never heard before, tips me over the edge.

She senses as much, because she laughs even harder as I pull her down onto the bed. "So eager," she teases between giggles. A hungry smile weaves it's way onto my face as I toss the blankets over the two of us. I swear I hear someone scream, but I ignore the pleas as they sound like they belong to my own voice...

-Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ-

Trying to bring myself back to reality I punch the wall next to me. It works for a second as the pain registers in my tired arm, but as that dissipates so does the amount of control I have. Too bad punching things didn't change the past... not that I was expecting it to.

The memories berate me again, overtaking the small fraction of energy I have left in me.

I'm pathetic... If only I had better control over myself this never would have happened. If I would have pushed out the Shadow, and focused on what really mattered... If only I was stronger everything would've been avoided... Strength determines everything in this world. With the right amount I could've saved Minako from the Shadow's influence... I could've saved Miki from that fire. If only I was stronger...

-Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ-

Minako's POV

Startled, I bolt up from my desk, knocking over my chair along with the book I was studying. The knocking continues anyways. "Yes?" I call out finally as I collect the mess on the floor.

"Hey," Yukari says as she slides into my room. I didn't say you could come in, but oh well. "Just came to check up on you. We got worried when you said you weren't coming to school this morning." It's easy to tell that she's concerned about my well-being, but I can sense another intention behind it. She wants gossip, something that she can tell the others when they ask what happened to me.

I sigh and lean against my now propped up chair. "I'm alright," I reassure her. "Last night was just... particularly rough on me." I pick my words very carefully, not wanting to reveal anything. "I needed a break you know?" I say as a quick explanation, although it's not completely a lie. Not just that, but I needed a day away from him... Although I can't really tell her that without her getting suspicious. Not that I'd want her to know anyway.

"Oh I get it completely," she says with a smile. "With all the Shadow hunting we do nowadays it's not surprising that even our fearless leader would get tired too." She lets out a lighthearted laugh. "Now you're just like the rest of us."

"Huh?" I ask as I try to think back. "Are you guys usually exhausted after missions?" Sure, I've gotten a little drained after the full moon nights, but rarely on our regular trips to Tartarus. Do the others get tired from just Tartarus?

This time Yukari bows with laughter. "Even Akihiko is tired after some trips to Tartarus,"she says incredulously. "How have you not noticed?" A chill overtakes my body at the mention of his name, but I look away in time for her not to notice.

"I guess I just wasn't paying that much attention," I say nervously. "Sorry..."

"Oh! It's okay," she reassures me. "We all just have to try harder, especially that Stupei." With that she turns to the door and slowly opens it. "Well I guess I should leave you to resting. It's good to see that -" she stops mid sentence and stares down the hallway.

"What is it?" I ask nervously, mentally reaching for my naginata.

With confusion apparent on her face Yukari looks back at me. "I think something is happening downstairs. That's weird... It's so late and we're not going to Tartarus tonight. Everyone should almost be in bed by now." She inches out into the hallway, and I follow her out of curiosity. As soon as we're in earshot I can hear the shouting coming from the lobby. With every step the shouts continue to get worse and worse, along with our increasing concern. That concern comes to a head as we approach the staircase. We practically run down them.

"Akihiko! Come on! You're exhausted, stop it!" Mitsuru's uncharacteristically agitated voice breaks through as we reach the bottom of the stairs. From what I can see her hand is tightly wrapped around his bicep, subsequently holding him from the door.

"Mind your own business!" he shouts, exasperated. Around the two of them Junpei and Fuuka stand completely in shock, not exactly sure what to do. Although he's struggling with his words Akihiko doesn't look as if he's trying too hard to get away from Mitsuru. "I'm just going out for some extra training, okay?" he says to Mitsuru, trying to rationalize with her, but to no avail. Just like when he was injured and wanted to fight anyway, Mitsuru wasn't about to give in and let him do what he wanted.

"I'm sorry," she says through closed teeth. "But I can't let you do that. It's almost the Dark Hour, there's no way I'm letting you out of this dorm especially when you're already this tired."

"I'm fine!" he groans back at her. "I can handle any Shadow that comes my way." Mitsuru skeptically grimaces back at him, and I cringe internally at how much that expression is going to escalate the fight. No matter how good of a leader and council president she is Mitsuru sometimes doesn't know when to back down. "What?" he shouts incredulously back at her. "You think I can't handle some little wandering Shadows?"

"That's not what I mean, Akihiko," she says reproachfully, realizing her mistake. Without thinking I cross over to the two, not really sure what I can do to help the situation. Fuuka and Junpei sigh with relief as I approach the group, although Akihiko and Mitsuru don't even notice my presence. Like always they're in their own little temper-mental worlds.

"Akihiko," I plead simply despite how uncomfortable saying his name makes me. Almost as if I had shocked him he quickly turns his attention to me. Our eyes meet, and I'm instantly reminded of the night before. I cringe and tightly grip my stomach as it begins to churn. For a second a look of concern and guilt passes Akihiko's cloudy eyes, but almost instantly anger and frustration replaces them.

Without a word Akihiko breaks from Mitsuru's grip and before any of us have the time to react he is dredging up the stairs.

"What the hell was that about?" Junpei asks in disbelief.

So much for avoiding suspicion...

-Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ-